ZUMA APOLOGISES
ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma has unreservedly apologised for the homophobic comments which he made last weekend.
The apology came in the form of a statement in which he said that, “Our lesbian and gay compatriots are protected by the Constitution and I respect their rights, in my capacity as an individual citizen and as a member and one of the leaders of the ANC.
“I also respect, acknowledge and applaud the sterling contribution of many gay and lesbian compatriots in the struggle that brought about our freedom, and the role they continue to play in the building of a successful non-racial, non-discriminatory South Africa.
“I apologise unreservedly for the pain and anger that my remarks may have caused,” he concluded.
The controversial Jacob Zuma is widely seen as a popular presidential candidate, despite a number of court cases and allegations ranging from rape to fraud, although he has not been found guilty of either.
Zuma made the comments at a Heritage Day event in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. He was quoted as saying that, “Same-sex marriage is a disgrace to the nation and to God…”, adding that, “When I was growing up, unqingili [homosexuals] could not stand in front of me”. Zuma said that he was speaking in his personal capacity on the matter and “as a man”.
The statements were met with outrage and condemned by human rights and LGBT groups.
Jacob Zuma. I dont know. I will forgive him. Worth the shot in life. You know everybody makes mistakes. I dont know if it is worth giving him another change. Maybe he will come back and support us. Who knows?
JZ. How many chances must one get…. and still make mistakes.
Zuma. Are we all, the supporters of JZ, that blind?
How can a man who is unable to control his finincial affairs and his sexual affairs be expected
to run (read: control) a country?
Are we merely supporting him in the hope that we will get the positions we deire when the puppet is elected president!
replying to Oupa. we are surely not blind.but we are fulfiling the dream of Tata Madiba” I’ve charished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all person in the world live in peaceful hamony, with equal oportunities.we making sure to provide all tribes the equal oportunity.Viva GEDLEYIHLEKISA VIVA.qina ndoda we shall always support you no matter how they try to deprive your dignity.
oh please. That man is quite clearly another Mugabe in waiting. He can try to apologise till he goes blue in the face – he’s already spoken his mind, the apology is merely a PR exercise.
As long as the ANC puts him forward as a potential presidential candidate, they will MOST CERTAINLY not have my vote.
Zuma. Perhaps we have now reached the stage in South African politics whereby we realize that despite one’s contribution to the struggle it does not automatically entitles you to a leadership position in government. By his own behaviour the former deputy-president displays a very low level of either intelligence and/or logic, alternatively he suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. As a public figure (who in itself does not require membership of Mensa) he should realize that there is no such thing as “speaking in his private capacity” this apology only annoys me even further, for now he and his PR team wants to challenge our intelligence and integrity. Insofar as “a man” those words he should rather remove from his vocabulary altogether since he clearly does not know the meaning either.
If the ANC cannot control their deputy president how can we expect them to have control over key issues like crime as the governing political party? Because beneath the window dressing fa?ade in context with their leadership and its direction the struggle is only to began.
JZ. Well said and I support your views!
Jacob ZUMA. How any sane South African can support such a man to lead our country is beyond my comprehension. Are we Africans that dense?
If I were JZ I would not want to be seen in public. He still struts around wearing clothes that were given to him by his chronies – has he no PRIDE?
correction. we understand people like you,let me correct you brother, the ANC will not in any way appoint the next president to make you happy,& your vote will surely not stop zuma from RUNNING the country. we blacks shall always fight for equality in the goverment of all tribes & races of south africa.if you happen to have time try to read the famous rivonia trial by TATA MAbiba.