Publication: Independent Online Issued: Date: 2007-01-04 Reporter: Sibusiso Mboto

Mbeki Jibes Hurt Me Too, says Zuma

 

Publication 

Independent Online
Date

2007-01-04

Reporter

 Sibusiso Mboto

Web Link

www.iol.co.za

 

African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma has told of the pressure he has to face because people associate him with an unruly mob that disrupts President Thabo Mbeki's speeches at public functions.

Zuma was speaking on Wednesday at the Mazolwandle sports stadium in Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal, where members of the Ximba clan under inkosi Zibuse Mlaba honoured and congratulated him on his bravery in facing up to his run-ins with law enforcement agencies.

Zuma said he had consistently distanced himself from acts which were against the principles of the ANC, and would continue to call for unity within the ruling party.

He also told the crowd that he would continue in his call for leaders, especially ANC president Mbeki, to be accorded the respect they deserve.

He said he found it disheartening to hear the media and some of his comrades associating him with unruly individuals who taunt Mbeki at public platforms and functions.

"My commitment to seeing that the president is accorded the respect he deserves is reflected in what I did on that day when people started moving out of the stadium," said Zuma.

He was referring to his call for people not to move out of the stadium when Mbeki was delivering a keynote address during the reburial of ANC stalwart Moses Mabhida in Pietermaritzburg a few weeks ago.

The embarrassing incident, which took place at the Harry Gwala stadium, was the second of its kind, following the incident at Kingsmead stadium in Durban during the Mahatma Gandhi centenary celebrations.

During his trial in Pietermaritzburg last year, some sections of the crowd who had gathered for several days in a show of support for Zuma were heard chanting anti-Mbeki slogans - something which was later condemned by ANC leaders.

Zuma also used the platform in the packed stadium to stress his willingness to serve the ANC in any capacity it desired.

• This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on January 03, 2007

With acknowledgements to Sibusiso Mboto and Independent Online.


On most occasions Zuma did nothing to rule in his supports. Indeed, he usually inflamed them with his attitude, his singing and dancing and other theatrics.

Only later, when the press turns negative, does the other fork of the tongue emerge.

But that is the trademark of the politician, doing the art of the possible.