Maimane slams Ramaphosa's 'Mabena strategy'
Founder of the Movement for One South Africa (MOSA) Mmusi Maimane has slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address, saying that it's evident the president has no clear plan for the country.
Ramaphosa delivered his annual address on Thursday.
During his address, Ramaphosa vowed to fix the ailing state-owned enterprises, youth unemployment and the stagnant economy.
On Tuesday MPs were given an opportunity to respond to the President's proposals, but the National Assembly descended into a slanging match between ANC and EFF MPs accusing each other of gender-based violence.
Unimpressed with the president and his former colleagues, Maimane said Ramaphosa's government is failing to respond to the needs of South Africans.
"There were some missed opportunities to reaffirm our values.
"It (Parliament) has taken issues that are serious to the people of this country from the economy, from their own safety, from citizens ability to build the South Africa that they want to see and Parliament is not speaking to that."
Eita @CyrilRamaphosa your parliamentary benches chose a Mabena strategy izolo.
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) February 19, 2020
You need to put Boy Mamabolo on the bench. He is costing you and taking attention away from the substantive issues.
Gutter politics is not your brand. #SONADEBATE2020
Last year Maimane resigned as DA leader and from the parliamentary benches.
The former MP says its easy to lose perspective when you're on the inside.
"Often when you are inside the ring, you lose perspective of where the country is at. South Africa is in crisis.
"For me having to look as an outsider into Parliament, it's clear that in fact if Parliament doesn't get itself together it will become a centre of theatre rather than a space where solutions are faced by the people."
Ramaphosa will have an opportunity to address MPs again on Thursday to respond to their concerns.
"I would invite the President to take some strong decisions. He needs to rise about party politics."
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Mathekga's comments come after Parliament descended into chaos at the beginning of the sitting, when ANC MP Boy Mamabolo accused EFF leader Julius Malema for the second time of abusing his wife Mantwa. Malema did not take the claims lying down and hit back by accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa of abusing his late wife Nomazizi Mtshotshisa.