‘SA is being marred by thieving‚’ says Albert Luthuli’s daughter

02 November 2016 - 13:51 By Nathi Olifant
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Albertina Luthuli takes to the stage in Durban's #SaveSouthAfrica
Albertina Luthuli takes to the stage in Durban's #SaveSouthAfrica
Image: Kaveel Singh via Twitter

Luthuli said the current political situation in South Africa was not what people had voted for in 1994. “When we fought for political emancipation‚ we were building a solid future‚ not what we see after” 22 years.

We did not fight for the South Africa we have today. That was the sentiment expressed by Albertina Luthuli‚ the eldest daughter of former African National Congress (ANC) president Inkosi Albert Luthuli‚ who was among scores of speakers at the Active Citizen Movement at Gugu Dlamini Park in Durban on Wednesday.

Luthuli said the current political situation in South Africa was not what people had voted for in 1994. “When we fought for political emancipation‚ we were building a solid future‚ not what we see after” 22 years.

She called on President Jacob Zuma to step down‚ saying he had failed to uphold the Constitution. She accused him of not defending National Treasury when it was being attacked. She said he should be rendering support to Treasury ahead of any decision by the rating agencies.

“South Africa does not need a revolution as it has also not helped the Arab Spring movements in the Arab regions. South Africa is wealthy and has enough resources to take care of its nation. But it is being marred by thieving‚” said Luthuli.

The ANC’s Johannesburg headquarters is named after her father.

About 200 people converged at the park under the #SaveSA banner with an emphatic message: Zuma must fall.

The movement stressed the need to defend state institutions which‚ they said‚ had been captured by corrupt elements in Zuma's government.

That sentiment was echoed by activist Ela Gandhi‚ the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi‚ who said that South Africa was well on its way to ruin and confidence had reached “rock bottom”.

“Those who should defend our Constitution are only talking about amending it‚” she said.

Professor David McQuoid-Mason‚ president of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association‚ said Zuma had turned South Africa into a banana republic.

“He says if he interfered in the NPA process he would have turned the country into a banana republic. By dissolving the Scorpions he had already set the country to a banana republic‚" said McQuoid-Mason.

He then listed all of the scandals swirling around Zuma and the Gupta family‚ starting from the family wedding in 2013 when guests landed at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

Other struggle stalwarts who were present included Thumba Pillay‚ Jerry Coovadia and Paul David.

– TMG Digital/The Times

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