Zuma lashes out at ANC 'charlatans'

I find it amazing how some of our leaders can make such far-fetching comments like "the Freedom Charter belongs to the ANC". The Freedom Charter was adopted by the Congress of the People who congregated at huge risk in Kliptown. At that stage, white, coloured and Indian people could not even belong to the ANC. The people present there were not there to create an ANC document, but a truly non-racial document spelling out the aspirations of the entire South African nation. So in essence, the Freedom Charter, like South Africa, belongs to all who live in it! This comment of Zuma reminds me of one of his other claim suggesting that a certain hygienic activity can prevent infection with a certain disease. Is this our leader speaking?

the freedom charter "BELONGS" to the ANC???

Strange, an online dictionary I checked defines charlatan as 'a person who pretends to more knowledge or skill than he or she possesses; a quack, a fraud'.

Given Zuma's theory that a shower is an effective measure against contracting AIDS, I would suggest that 'charlatan' applies more closely to home.

Zuma had warned Lekota that should he leave the ANC, it would be "very cold out there".

Cde. JZ what does "it would be very cold out there" mean? Does it mean elimination and harrassment of Lekota et al and those supporting him. Is this a real ZANI-fication of the ANC. I am very worried by these statement. Your statement is equal to that made by Malema when he said 'they will eliminate" any obstacle on your way to Presidency.

I am worried! I am worried and very worried in deed!

These group of 'charlatans' just want us put the Freedom Charter under our beds. I am sure they need a thorough lecture on this document. This document is itself is no way angry as, these people tend to behave. A new movement today in South Africa will not offer any solution to those who are defeated in political party- internal election to leadership. So many divorce arrangements have been made so many times and so many years ago but, none of them served to be a solution to the problems.Let the 'charlatans' forge ahead with their divorces, convention so that they die unpeaceful and undemocratic political deaths.

I applaud the decision to suspend membership of Terroro Lekota on a basis that the ANC is too big to be held to ransom by comrades who, in pursuit of personal ambitions to become leaders in perpetuity, fail to recognise the simple democratic process that in democracies, leadership comes and goes. Perhaps Malema put it in a better context by referring to them as "blue lights" comrades who cannot imagine life without ministerial largesee (bodyguards etc) . . . All conscious South Africans should not give credence to this whole hullabaloo and recognise that the Polokwane loss for cde Terror and his allies is seemingly a bitter pill to swallow and the hangover seems persistent. I have struggled to conceptualise and understand the basis on which all those that support the idea of a convention have, seemingly because if Terror Lekota wanted to make a meaningful change in the lives of our Country's majority he would have recognised the importance of strengthening the ruling party to sustain the gains of previous 14 years. Modise Moiloanyane

Freedom charter YES belongs to our movement, ANC PERIOID but due to the movement being a leading political organisation and having interests of this country at heart, it decided to adopt it into our consitution. If you don't know this history, please consult before you become ignorant and pass incorrect statement on this blog.
I reiterate on what Cmr JZ said, Lekota, George and Ncedana are charlatans and it is indeed cold out there, what 's wrong with such statement?

Imagine this scenario: Terror and co form their new party or whatever. They then vote for office bearers. And Terror loses...will he go to 702 and announce yet another convention? The truth of the matter is simple: Bread has been taken away from his mouth. If he doesn't act he will starve. Simple as that. Democracy is bitter-sweet. I will vote for anybody who promises real action on HIV Aids, Crime (including white collar crime, yes), unemployment and education.

Can we please add onto the list another fresh, brand new statement that needs an explanation, Cde Terror has told the people he addressed over the weekend that they must be ready to "spill blood for democracy."

Can the real democrats please stand up?????

Zuma can threaten as much as he wish to, people can make up their minds and make a choice as to who to vote for. It doesn't mean that if we have been members of the ANC we must remain there for life even if we are not happy with the organisation. Life is too short and that’s  why Terror can’t wait to fight ANC from within and watch the current leadership messing up everything for the next 5 years. Time to act is now to defend our democracy before we regret.

I am very disapointed that nothing fresh and uniting has come from the leadership of the ANC to date. I think that almost everyone knows that starting a new political party is not an easy task. Mr Lekota is a seasoned polititian surely he could not be naive about this.

Surely people can not just stay in the ANC because "it is cold out there". There surely should be a better reason than this one.

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Tribalism, racism? I guess some people have sunk to such levels of desperation that they no longer know what to say? How is the above tribalistic or racist if I may ask? Just ordinary statements said by ordinary supporters really? should a leader be held responsible for that?

Lekota needs to be reminded that Zuma was elected by the majority of voters from all corners of the country - he should accept his own defeat graciously and stop sinking to such levels of desperation.

Zuma took his time to respond to Lekota's shinanigans of the past two weeks or so. It is quite clear going by some of the above comments that those who hate him had been waiting desperately, and itching to jump at anything he was likely to say in response. Zuma's silence had been too much for them.

Quite frankly, after what Lekota has been doing, abusing ANC structures, I really do not see anything wrong in Zuma's response.

Zuma's enemies do not seem to realise that it is exactly their comments, actions and attitudes against him that make the ordinary man in the slum dwellings of this country love him so much- they make him popular.

It is about time some of our white folks learnt to understand the average black person - the BLACK PSYCHE. You castigate Zuma for polygamy,you elicit exactly the ooposite reaction from those whose support you expect to win over. Even the predominantly white and white led DA would be well advised to be African in outlook over the Zuma issue and many other issues that affect the ordinary man in the street, if they ever wish to win over ANC supporters.

Black people hate it with a passion to be judged by white or western value paradigms. It does not matter what views you might hold about them. Call them primitive, backward whatever - thay will simply not get you anywhere, if you want to live a stress-free life in Africa. You'll simply take them with you to your grave, period. We live in Africa not Europe!

"Definitely wrong because the ANC adheres to the rule of law. What Terror [Lekota] is failing to appreciate is that in the particular case that he is referring to there is concrete evidence that there had been a political conspiracy and it was politically engineered."

What concrete evidence JZ? All you have is a judge who inferred that in his opinion there may have been. Come...lets have your day in court.

Its a pity that the meeting is not held yet but JZ is pre-empting the decision to be taken against Terror. Anyway the ANC of JZ is not immune to those practices as we all know that the decision to axe the former SA president was decided before the NEC meeting. Its a ashame that we wil be led by people who think by thier feet.

Aubuti Terror is a bad loser, i very much support the actions taken by the ANC. It was during his term as a chairperson that ANCYL elected Malema and if Terror saw something wrong with how Malema handled himself did he do or say anything about it? Yes it was only during his normal bursts when he was trying to get to his apparent, usual and known number 1 foe.

Rather than allow ANC being out of Terror's might and influence he would rather go on a rampage to attempt to destroy everything linked to it. Terror is a bad loser and number one enemy to our democracy. People please do not be fooled by Terror, his mission is "ANC exists only when he is in or he will do everything distabilise it"

I agree with you Dave Molapo. Terror is a bad looser indeed. He never saw anything wrong with Peter Mokaba's "Kill the Booer, Kill the Farmer's slogan", because Mokaba was the Kingmaker of his beloved Mbeki for President.If "KILL" was the acceptable language in the Mbeki/Mokaba heydays, "KILL" is still the language in the "Zuma/Malema" era, and the party is still the same ANC. What's good for the goose, is good for the gender!

Double standards - Mandela came up with his Madiba jive and the funny unpresidential Madiba shirts - the many vocal white critics of Zuma never saw anything wrong, so what's up with a dancing Zuma?

What about the total silence and lack of debate over the "HIV not causing AIDS" Mbeki era, Mr Terror? the "quite diplomacy" over Zimbabwe in the last 10-years that has ruined the once thriving economy up north - where you around Mr Terror?

And the interference with the NPA by your boss, when that drug Lord who passes for a police Commissioner was about to be arrested - where you there Mr Terror?

Please Terror stop spreading terror and just accept you lost in Polokwane. Go quitely and let Zuma reign in peace and quite. In another five years you'll have another bite at the cherry if you so choose - but ONLY if you behave yourself. But going by your recent conduct I doublt it!

The comments about taking radical action against 'factionalists' sounds familiar...Let's see...Isn't that how the Mafia operates? And Yakuza? And the Triads? Not to mention the Inquisition.

The characteristics that will be the undoing of the ANC are, ironically, the same ones that brought down the Nats: rigidity, authoritarianism, dogmatism, and paranoia.

History truly does repeat itself for those who fail to heed its lessons.

Number one enemy to our democracy? Competition is in fact very good for democracy! It should be there to keep the ruling party on its toes. African leaders have alot to learn about democracy my friend.

In response to Khoza Khoza's statement:

"It is about time some of our white folks learnt to understand the average black person - the BLACK PSYCHE...

Black people hate it with a passion to be judged by white or western value paradigms. It does not matter what views you might hold about them. Call them primitive, backward whatever - thay will simply not get you anywhere, if you want to live a stress-free life in Africa. You'll simply take them with you to your grave, period. We live in Africa not Europe!" (sic)


Your comment seems to me to be based on a very essentialist, reductive perspective. Do you truly believe you can speak for the entire "black psyche"? Exactly who is the "average black person"? Why the "us and them" thing - don't all people hate being judged by the paradigms of others, irrespective of race? I also don't see any reference to polygamy in the above article, and it's inaccurate to generalize it into something that all black people approve of and all white people disapprove of.

I believe such divisive thinking should be discarded and discouraged if we ever want to get away from the mental burdens left by our country's previous regime.

The stunts that Terror is trying to pull won't take him anywhere,he is not big than ANC,Without him there is ANC,without mbeki there is ANC,he will obviously end like sobukwe,holomisa,DA.too bad.

Ever wondered how people would react if the IFP said they would kill to ensure Buthelezi became president, of if the DA were to threaten to kill anybody who stood in the way of Zille becoming president?

South Africans have never experienced a democratic process. Wake up South Africa democracy is not about your favourites it is about the majority. Thabo Mbeki fell through a democratic process through which he wanted to turn into a dictatorship.

If you take what JZ has done from the seat of ANC Presidency then you will understand that what happened in Polokwane was the greatest step ever taken in South Africa. We would have been under Mbeki's rule for another five years. He would only be pulling the strings from behind. All Mbeki loyalists are pro-dictatorship in that they do not want to see change happening to the country and offcourse their gluttonous selves.

Mbeki was no great leader, JZ is no great leader, Lekota crumbled the army. Change to human beings is naturally resisted and once we as a country overcome this hurdle, i speculate that South Africa will be one of the most powerful, wealthy and Democratic Nation in the World.

We conquer our National problems then we will control Globalisation. Be aware of what this current political environment has to bring for the Nation.

Viva ANC, Viva Thabo Mbeki, Viva Jacob Zuma, Viva Kgalema Motlante, Viva all opposition. Mosioua "Terror" Lekota and all Mbeki loyalists should Stop criticising and be transparent about your actions...you are still going to Fail Dismally...Thabo Mbeki will be laughing at you.

What is ANC Presidential hopeful refering to when he says its cold outside the ANC? Is he refering to the fact that you will not get bribes anymore, be above the law like the Balekas of this world, (Travel gate scam). If Terror chooses to be a moral citizen and not be affiliated with the malema's, nzimande's, vavi's and as Zapiro puts it, the emperor- to- be, jz its his democratic right which im sure is enshrined in the freedom charter which "belongs" to the ANC according to some people.

Buyakasha!!!

I feel pity for those that are still intersted in politics soon enough South Africa will go the route and eventually the rot of the rest of Africa.
Remember that Kgalema spoke of consolidating mines into one organ known as NMC[national mining company]This suggesstion is the birth bed of the South African civil war.
The humiliated international mining companies will sponsor the splinter party to cause desruptions.When the well funded constant protests turns violant the USA will send troops to occupy mining areas in the name of peace keeping
may time prove me wrong.

I am also happy to share this head space with Dave Molapo Buyakasha!! Mail&Guardian Buyakasha!!

Clarien Luttig,
I agree, we should not always be compartmentalising people into races and other groups in this country. But you cannot ignore the realities about the history of this country that make our people seem to always see things differently owing to their racial backgrounds.

But why do you think statistical surveys are always segmented to account for race, gender, age,level of education differences etc? Going by what you are saying we should stop this categorisation as we seem to be living in the past. That is not a helpful argument.

It is a fact that almost 90% of the white population is against a Zuma presidency and some of them going by their writings in columns like these almost sound very personal, much in the same manner Lekota is going about it these days.

On the contrary, whilst some blacks are against a Zuma presidency, the proportion is much smaller, and the question is why these differences between these two major races?

The answer to this question lies squarely in the differences in our backgrounds, cultures and values? A man who lives in a squatter camp, and has no clean drinking water will not bother about who Zuma slept with last night in deciding to vote or not to vote for him as the president of this country; if in his judgement he sees Zuma as the best person to get him out of his squatter living conditions - Because Zuma's sex life and how many wives he is married to are immaterial issues and are therefore not important. But such value judgements are important for a resident of Sandton and those who patronise the JSEs of this world.

I never said the article says anything about polygamy. I raised the issue of polygamy simply as a point to emphasise the cultural aspects of our differences, which going by some contributions by some of our white folks, have been a matter of redicule and derision on the part of Jacob Zuma becoming the next president. I am saying such rediculing of our cultural values,by whites will not lead them anywhere. It is quite clear that it is some of these things about Zuma's personal life that ellict so much hatred for him from white South African communities.

To them it does not matter what he says or does, they will always twist everything in order to fault him one way or the other. All because he is African and does not pretend to be westernised like Mbeki. You don't get the same rediculing of Mbeki despite all his faults - the HIV/AIDS disaster, the aloofness, the NPA/Selibi fiasco, the centralisation of authority, the refusal to fire Manto, the quite diplomacy, the firing of the health deputy minister, the arms deal disaster, refusal to appoint a judicial committe of enquiry etc. The list is endless!

WOW, its so amaizing how people tend to close their think tanks because they just want to continue being naive and act as if they know and understand the dynamics of our movement!!!!! I dont see anything wrog with what JZ said, actually in my interpretation, he was a bit polite... Terror and all squable causers, who are actually bitter because they are not intouch with the masses they influenced the outcome of Polokwane really need to be called into order and be reminded that the ANC belongs to the people not to the few ambitious greedy politicians who have lost taste and understanding of the very same policies and the freedom charter they complain about! The ANC remains firm in its drive to fight porverty, imbalances, crime, HIV/Aids and many other key issues. they say there is no opne debate in the ANC, the movement has shifted from it pollicies and principles... I wonder if going to the media will create opne debate, we in the ANC are engaging on this issues without fear or apology and there is an opne debate!!! bye Terror we will remain powerful even if you start your Terror Convention

Its so appalling how people who no nothing always pinpoint others that know nothing.

By the way, Khoza khoza, you forgot to tell us the statistics of Black South Africans that do not want Zuma.

I'm not even sure if this should be across racial lines as many South Africans are way beyond this and eager for a real non-racial society.

The new party offers to render South Africans that form of freedom and democracy as well as collaboration of intellectuals to take this country a step forward within the global economy.

Lest South Africans are not paying attention to the current global economy: America is grappling with an economic crisis. This is not only an American crisis. Why? For America is a dominant economy at some point in time, rather in a short run it is going to affect several nations. Actually, it has began affecting other economies, but, whatever alternatives out there may not be effective if US hasn't gotten the stuff together. But, the bottom line in that societies still need leadership with adequate financial literacy for a stable economy which will effect growth and development.

This is the kind of leadership we are in need of in South Africa. Whether you agree or not, as much as we are still grappling with poverty, Mbeki and his administration had taken South African a step further and repositioned it within the global community. The administration, rather Mbeki had his own mistakes as not a single person on earth is perfect. Hence, I also understand the fact that JZ and some members of his camp also have alleged corruption weaknesses (besides blaming conspiracy, we saw the audit reports by KPMG-if you missed it ask M & G to re-publish it for us). Against that, there is still no comparison between the two guys. There was also no comparison between Mbeki and GW Bush, so lets retain our energy on this comparison part.

What I'm trying to say here is that, if we truly love this country; our initiatives should be geared at uniting and mobilizing masses that share common goals such as peace, non-sexist, non-racial, non-sectarian, adherence/respect of rule of law, quality education, economic growth and etc....

Whether you agree with me or now; right now we do not seem to have UN-POLARIZED political party in South Africa, supplemented with brains. Where you find well-thinkers like Zille (in some issues) you also find bias/disregard of other critical issues pertaining particular groups. Where you find will-power for opposing, you do not find direction, policy orientation, fully fledged connection with grassroots masses.

FYI - A lot of lack South Africans do not give a crap about race; which is of course why we did not go for the AZAPO and/or the PAC at the time they were anti-white. But, that being said, as much as the ANC taught us about the beauty of accepting and embracing one another as equal it could also benefit from some modifications. Whether such modifications might be new opposition or not; that is not my point.

My point here is the fact that as much as I'd have stood up against bigotry from a White person, it is also necessary to stand up next to you as a Black person as we endeavour forward.

I hope that we shall all find peace in the process and learn to love ourselves and one another much more.

Cheers
p.s: forgive my typos, I never get time to edit.