Hon Speaker and hon members, South Africa finds itself faced with a leadership crisis of epic proportions. On the one hand our economy is in shambles due to poor leadership and economic mismanagement and, on the other hand, corruption has spiralled out of control. Fanning the flames is the fact that not only is President Zuma at the centre of this mayhem, but, in many instances, he is actually the cause.

Over the past decade, millions of taxpayers' money has been spent trying to ensure that President Zuma never gets his day in court to answer numerous corruption charges against him. We therefore find ourselves at the precipice of a decision. We must stop burying our heads in the sand and confront the problem head-on.

The President is at the centre of the problem facing South Africa today. It is for these reasons that the UDM believes that the time has come for us to discuss an amicable exit strategy for President Zuma. [Laughter.] In the meantime, can the ruling party please take back President Zuma and keep him as far away from running the country as possible. [Applause.]

The fact that we have to request the ANC to take back its President because our people are unable to remove him from the office no matter how dissatisfied they are with his performance points to the current flaw in our electoral system where the party, rather than the people, elects the president.

The UDM therefore proposes that we change our electoral system to ensure that people rather than the party directly elect the president. As long as the status quo remains, we will continue to sit with presidents who do as they please and get away with it precisely because they are able to dispense patronage to pacify their political masters.

Niyayazi nani nihleli kwezoo ndawo nikuzo ukuba ninengxaki nalo tata kodwa ngenxa yokuba eninika izikhundla anikwazi ukuthetha. Sithethela nina, siyaninceda ngoku musani ukungxola. [Uwele-wele.] [You all know from where you are seated that you have problems with this gentleman, but because he offers you positions, you are silent. We speak on your behalf, we are helping you, now stop making noise. [Interjections.]] We also propose that all members of the executive be vetted in public hearings in order to ascertain their fitness for office.

Sanele, hambani naye ngoku. Ilizwe aliqhubekeli phambili. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [It is enough, go with him now. The nation is not progressing. Thank you. [Applause.]]