How ANC gravy train suddenly silenced DA's 'sharp tongue'

VERY few people can dispute the impact the DA had in Parliament when it was in opposition benches. It ensured that the ANC had its worst days in government especially during the time Jacob Zuma was the country’s president. 

Every scandal that broke was turned into something that could be used to taint the then ruling party through courts, chapter nine institutions and the court of public opinion.

Those efforts combined including leading the charge on the Nkandla issue eventually led to the ANC turning against its president.

That of course was to be expected from any opposition party, just like the EFF did when it piled its own pressure to have Zuma removed from the Union Buildings. 

It was therefore not an unreasonable expectation that the DA would use that same energy to correct the ‘wrongs’ it had  been complaining about all along before eventually forming part of the government. 

 If anything, the DA has lived up to the meaning of the saying: ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’.

First Phala Phala; the party that once demanded and, in fact ,voted in favour of  a report that found President Cyril Ramaphosa had a case to answer, suddenly became tight-lipped about its stance on the saga once it found its way into the executive. 

The DA is now part of the same problems it once complained about. It has not rejected Ramaphosa’s decision to approve  salary increases for his bloated executive. You don’t have to guess who will be responsible for the 3.8% pay increase for ministers, deputy ministers, and parliamentarians from April 1.

What it means is that deputy president now earns R3.28 million, an increase of R120,000, ministers will pocket R2.79m, which is R102,000 more while Deputy Ministers will receive R2.30-million (up R84,000) in a country where unemployed doctors, teachers and nurses are forced to make do with a R370 grant. 

Now that it benefits them, the DA sees nothing wrong with the ANC gravy train judging by its silence. Voters are watching and will not hesitate to express their frustration through the ballot paper. Ask the ANC!