ANC 'disturbed' by Tutu remarks

The Archbishop has simply said what a considerable number of South Africans think .. that would be why the ANC is really "disturbed". Accusing him of trying to influence the NPA, or the outcome of the case should there ever be one, is ludicrous!!

Why on earth would this Govt. think that Archbishop Tutu is capable of influencing anything at all? After all, the ANC Govt. ignored the fact that he, along with other Nobel Lauriates, invited the Dalai Lhama to this country for a Peace Conference whilst they cravenly obeyed instructions from the local representatives of the occupying forces still oppressing Tibetans, to deny His Holiness a visa!

I'm not surprised, these days you seldom see him among his own people.
If he was not distant from the people he would know those who were tortured and those who went to exile(and struggled) don't share his sentiments.

Whether he likes it or not Zuma will be his president.

It is disturbing that the ANC has adopted the same attitude toward Tutu's criticism of the government as the apartheid regime. Now the "man of the cloth", whose brave opposition to apartheid was in no small part instrumental in the advent of democracy in South Africa, must keep quiet and not speak about the shortcomings of the government and governing party.

The cynicism in a statement suggesting that Tutu "would benefit from a walk through Gugulethu, Langa and Khayelitsha in Cape Town", about a man whose entire career has been among and for those people is abhorrent. And the threat implied in saying: "It would be unfortunate if the bishop is found not to respect the rule of law and its processes", is so reminiscent of the 1980's it is spine-chilling.

"If you don't think like us, you are doomed." I admire Tutu for his courage. We are living in a democracy and the ANC should not be "disturbed". They know Zuma will win the legal battle.... but they surely know that he has failed to win the moral one. There is no moral future for our coutry with the ANC in power. I am sick of hearing people say "no one is perfect". How could we feel if bankers told us that nobody is perfect and our money has vanished under their guidance?

Tutu is now able to speak and spew venom about the ANC oblivious of the fact that it is the same ANC that guaranteed him the right to speak. The Bill of Rights was introduced to the South Africans by the ANC. We know that his son, Trevor, is a member of the DA and, given that Tutu and Helen Zille's utterings are indistinguishable these days, it is any one's guess for whom he is campaigning.

Archbishop you are a magnificnet old man. You spoke the truth to power back then and annoyed the Nats. You are now annoying the new leaders by doing the same thing. You make me proud to be a South African.

"It would be unfortunate if the bishop is found not to respect the rule of law and its processes”.

“…is found…” found by whom, not to respect the rule of law and its processes? By Julius Malema whose motto is “No Zuma, no country”? And what of “We are prepared to kill and die for Zuma”? Not to mention that Malema is the one pre-empted the Nicholson decision, saying he was confident that it would be favourable to Zuma! And the ANC has the gall to accuse Desmond Tutu of disrespect for the rule of law?

@ANC
"…the Bishop's views do not resonate with the dominant view of the public…”

WHAT???

Obviously the ANC do not read the polls that have been done repeatedly since Polokwane that show that the majority of South Africans do not want the NPA to drop the charges. The majority want to see Mr Zuma have his day in court as he has maintained all along is his goal.

“If the bishop wants to pronounce on Zuma's guilt and innocence at a personal level, he must say so and would find this to be out of character given his standing as a man of the cloth”.

Bishop Tutu has never "pronounced" on Zuma’s guilt or innocence’. (Despite ANC rhetoric, one cannot be both guilty AND innocent at the same time. Then again, if you’re in with Zuma…)

The bishop’s disapproval of Zuma is based on Zuma’s own behaviour and the failure to rein in the more radical factions of the ANC and the Youth League who have repeatedly threatened the country with violence and civil war! It is Zuma’s irresponsible behaviour that the Bishop—and a huge number of citizens—object to.

“…he must say so and would find this…” Who would find what? This makes no sense.

“The party was "taken aback" by Tutu's "continued comparison of the ANC to God", considering this blasphemy and sacrilege”.

This is a shameful distortion of Bishop Tutu’s statement on 3rd Degree earlier this week. He did NOT COMPARE THE ANC TO GOD. He said that the leaders of the ANC must not think of THEMSELVES AS GODS. He was referring to the attitude of ‘divine right to rule’ implied by the ANC claim that it would rule until the Second Coming. THAT IS BLASPHEMOUS.

I suppose one should never be surprised at the depths to which the ANC and the Alliance will stoop to silence its most credible critics but this level of distortion of the public record is disgraceful. Even for this lot.

Not so ago Bishop Tutu informed all and sundry that he is not going to vote because of the manner in which former president Mbeki was removed from office.

He has gone further by saying he is not happy with the possibility of a Zuma presidency. He really sounds fearful of this prospect, like some sections of the population.

He is on record saying that irrespective of evidence before NPA, Zuma must be charged. I was under the impression that his spirited defence for Dalai Lama’s rights would include Zuma’s.

Since the bishop deemed it fitting to announce his non-participation in the upcoming election, is it presumptuous to enquire if the bishop has changed his mind?


I know the bishop loves his cricket; the question is who is he batting for?

maybe the anc must clarify the bishop or show the bishop the procedure for nominating a party president and how that elected president becomes a country's president. it looks different to the one used to get a bishop

Cant he talk more about his divided anglican church?

Tutu seems to see the situation with a clarity the government would prefer to obscure. Their response is certainly over the top, and you know when the response is so disproportionate that they must realize how right he is.

South Africans get to know the decision they are going to take on election day, will be a thing that they will regret most if they chooses a leader with no leadership quality at all.

Voting is a God given right and it is good for every citizen to vote. However such a vote has to be used wisely or else it can just became a severe pain in the as..

We all know the political climate in our country is increasingly becoming uncertain.

The situation reduced to the politics of good and evil, maybe say xhosa vs zulus or pedis vs shangaans. Tribal war waged behind closed doors and publicly denounced. Petty politics, but dangerous as they once almost bring the country Kenya on its knees.

South Africans who once traveled abroad or live somewhere overseas, Bishop Tutu's remarks are genuine. It is also a warning of things to come that might not be as good as some think.

Another African disaster waiting to happen? Let's hope not.

Quite right Arch.
You are one of the voices in the wilderness. And you are "NOT GUILTY" of
"What you do" AND, what's more so, "What you have failed to do"

PeterSextant

Thank you Desmond Tutu for showing there are still people in this country with a back bone and not afraid to stand up and say what most South Africans already know. Thank you for giving back a ounce of respectably to this great country.

I have always admired and respected the Archbishop Emeritus, but over time his obsession with preventing JZ from becoming president of both the ANC and the country has made me lose respect for the man of God.Is he not going against his own teachings by judging Zuma.I think his passionate hatred for JZ is clouding his judgement.

What Julius Malema and the other narrow-minded supporters of JZ forget is that the rest of the world MATTERS. Robert Mugabe also thought he could thumb his nose at the world. Today he is squeeling like a pig and his people are dying.

The Arch is at it again. He accuses the ANC of behaving like GOD whereas it is he who continues to Judge others. In his mind JZ is guilty and there's no way in hell (or is it heaven) that he should become President of this country irrespective of what the majority of voters think. I think the ANC is correct, He must spend his time here rather than in New York - he would how mot of us are sooooo looking forward to yet another ANC landslide victory. I cant wait for comrade Julius' response on this one!

Lamuntu,

Many other people are also waiting for comrade Julius' response to this one, because it's always great to have a good laugh.
tutu speaks sense.