Mr Speaker, Cope feels very strongly that our country has abandoned and wilfully squandered the moral high ground that we, as a country, occupied so proudly after 1994. The President of our country has let us down. He has let Africa and the world down. Our destiny, that looked so promising until a few months ago, now faces a universal erosion of goodwill.
On behalf of Cope, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper as follows:
That the House -
1) has no confidence in the President of the Republic; and
(2) in terms of section 102(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, passes a motion of no confidence in him for his failure to live up to the expectations of a broad spectrum of South Africans.
A few examples demonstrate the flagrant violation of the oath that he took when he occupied this highest office. It is common knowledge that the President has failed this nation by setting a poor example through his repeated risky sexual behaviour, thus weakening the crucial fight against HIV and Aids.
He has failed to exercise any leadership over his Cabinet, some of whom continue to send conflicting messages of what is acceptable, ethical and moral behaviour.
He has failed to act against approximately 2 000 public servants who are alleged to have stolen more than R650 million from the public purse.
Despite having the Ginwala commission's report available to him, he failed to exercise good judgement and appointed a man of dubious record and poor capability as the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
He has failed to lead on issues of accountability to this Parliament by not declaring his assets and liabilities on time, and only doing so eight months later and under public pressure.
This sad reality, rather than any politicking or having a vengeful vendetta against the President, is why we are bringing this motion before this House. The President swore at his inauguration:
I commit myself to the service of the nation with dedication, commitment, discipline, integrity, hard work and passion.
Speaker, the President has, by his own wilful conduct and dangerously flawed judgement, lost the confidence of this House and the nation. He should do the honourable thing and resign his office. Thank you. [Applause.]