‘Planet Zuma: Somewhere in a galaxy far‚ far away’ – Maimane

'Planet Zuma' memes surfaced shortly after DA leader Mmusi Mainane's address at the #SONAdebate: 

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Last week‚ while razor wire was going up around Parliament‚ and stun grenades were dispersing the crowds‚ the President was “tucked safely away‚ somewhere on Planet Zuma”‚ Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Tuesday.

Speaking during the debate on President Jacob Zuma’s state of the nation address (SONA)‚ Maimane told Parliament that “Planet Zuma” was a place in a parallel universe‚ far‚ far away from the lives of ordinary South Africans.

“Planet Zuma is a place where a swimming pool is called a fire pool.

“It is a place where all the continents of the world fit into Africa.

“It is a place where the Finance Minister flies economy class‚ but the president buys himself a R4 billion jet‚” Maimane asserted.

“Planet Zuma is a place where a President can replace an excellent Finance Minister with a backbencher that nobody has ever heard of.

“It is a place where an international fugitive wanted for genocide is welcomed and given refuge‚” he added.

“Planet Zuma” was a place where young people who stood up for their right to learn were dismissed as part of a “third force” and charged with treason.

“It is a place where mineworkers can be massacred by the police‚ without apology and without compensation for their families.

“Planet Zuma is where our President lives‚ in a galaxy far‚ far away from the lives of ordinary South Africans‚” Maimane charged.

He added that on “Planet Zuma” there was no jobs crisis.

“This is why‚ in the President’s speech‚ we didn’t hear anything about the 8.3 million South Africans who are jobless.

“On Planet Zuma‚ all children have access to a quality education. This must be why the President didn’t mention basic education once.

“On Planet Zuma‚ our state owned enterprises are‚ in the words of the President‚ ‘performing well’”.

“And‚ on Planet Zuma‚ every problem can be solved by setting up a Committee‚ a Task Team or a Commission of Inquiry‚” Maimane stated.

He continued: “Let me be clear: we came to listen to the President out of respect for the Constitution and the office he holds. But we did not come out of respect for Jacob Zuma.

“We cannot respect a man who puts himself and his rich friends first while the people of this country suffer.

“We cannot respect the man personally responsible for the building of Nkandla and the firing of Nhlanhla.

“Madam Speaker‚ Jacob Zuma is not an honourable man. Because‚ if he was an honourable man‚ he would do the honourable thing and resign.”