Tutu not looking forward to a Zuma presidency

I will continuously align my conscious to a fact that Politics and Religion doesn't mix, infact it makes our religious leaders to look more like hipocrites and judges. For this reason lets all keep to our calling, do some research and listening before we talk.

Frankly speaking someof us dont care whether the unforgving priest is looking back or forth, only those politically opposed to the ANC and its President would really care. President Mandela behaved more like a priest than Tutu does, by embracing Bill Clinton in his hour of need, and reassured him it was ok, he was just human. Instead, our Tutu has pandered on opposition politics to the extent that he forgot the Lords prayer "for us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us!" amen!

Whatever...he's an individual at the end of the day.

This is nothing new. Everybody knows how Arch Tutu feels about Zuma, we wouldnt expect him to change over night. After all, he has already threatened not to vote because Zuma (not Mbeki) is the president of the ANC.

For me, this whole thing raises more questions about tribalism...i may be wrong, but it just doesnt escape the fact that Tutu was comfortable when Mandela & Mbeki were ruling the country, despite the fact that the crime, aids, corruption, poor service delivery, ignorance of human rights, lack of decent jobs, poor health care and the sort occured when the latter was in charge, and his holyness never threatened or shout aloud about how ANC has gone to the 'dogs'..but when a person from KZN leads the ANC...his holyness can't bear the sight of the ANC...in fact his support for a EC/WC-led Shikota is over the bar...Is that a 'random' coincidence or is just a well planned act?

Mbeki was right about Tutu, he interferes with the running of the state. Zille also preaches respect for judiciary but she questions decisions taken by the same judiciary. It seems opposition parties are using the same judiciary to weaken the ruling party and state. Let us wait for NPA decision and not influence it.

The revered Tutu is now attempting to play God to all of us. Perhaps we should go to another Truth Commission where Tutu will tell us how did he survive the Apartheid Police detention. I mean, the likes of Dandala and Chikane and many other religious leaders did somehow spent some nights in Apartheid jails for speaking out against Apartheid. How did he survive. I can argue and say Tutu is a sellout and he is continuing to do that. I cant admire the ANC leadership more for keeping silent on the tirades of this man. This is why I respect the ANC.

Tutu's views are irrellevant and it will only be wellcomed by his friends in the opposition. I find it astonishing that this noble churchman have not yet joined Cope or the DA. We in the ANC are not interested in what he is looking forward to but we are looking forward to a more transparent leader in JZ that doesn't associate himself with cigar smoking and single malt whisky drinkers who plot the country's course in dark rooms. Tutu continuously uses public platforms and the media to launch attacks on Zuma. The noble archbishop has now entered the political terrain and he should'nt cry foul when we use the same methods to attack him!

'A prosecution is not wrongful merely because it is brought for an improper purpose. It will only be wrongful if, in addition, reasonable and probable grounds for prosecuting are absent'."
Is'nt this what Judge Harms and his colleagues practiced during apartheid? This is how they converted political crimes to criminal crimes.

The old man must just take a break. He is alienating himself from the majority of black people with his reckless comments. Unfortunately, the crowd that he is appealing is not the one that votes for the ANC.

It is a sad indicator of just how far short of the mark we have fallen since the Mandela days, that so many people have reacted so poorly to the Tutu's statement.

Tutu is a man with a flawless moral record, a history of compassion and caring for the country as a whole, with nothing to gain personally and politically, and who has obviously taken pains not to mention a political party, but has confined his remarks to individuals. To say that he is engaged in a political campaign for the "opposition" is a completely transparent attempt to divert his words and to discredit his position.

Tutu is someone whose words should be taken to heart by all with the power to make a difference. Criticism from a man such as him should make them stop and think. Instead they try to discredit his motives. This causes me a great deal of pain, and is a serious indicator that we may be beyond the point of no return.

Once again it is left to the diminutive man with the heart of a lion to wade into the rabid masses and do what is right.

Archbishop Tutu has the guts to call a spade a spade when few others dare to do the same. The ANC and its alliance partners will of course be acidic in their response, but we have long since ceased to take them seriously.

There are many of us who feels uncomfortable with criticising a government run by a party whom we have actively supported in the past but there is no use dodging the subject now - the ANC and by extension unfortunately also the government is corrupt to the core and that corruption manifests itself in all of the actions of the government and ruling party.

Kudos to the bishop! It is a great pity that he is not available to serve in government - he would have been a more effective moral compass.

Tutu for President!!!

Dear GOD, you gave this little giant so much courage, so much wisdom and such humility. He will challenge ANY injustice he sees.

Perhaps Ray Macaulay (Rhema Church) could learn something about religious ans social ethics from this amazing man.

Go Desmond Go!

“… NUM: Tutu's comments were "misplaced and unfortunate" and "clearly on a campaign trail".
“…it is very worrying that his intentions seem to be to canvass for the
opposition", said Baleni.

"He must not abuse himself…”? This is a meaningless statement. It doesn’t even parse! (Look it up!)

“The right that the bishop does not have is to hate the children of God with passion." (Baleni)

@Baleni
1)Tutu is not ‘canvassing’ for ANY party and there is no evidence to suggest that he is.

2) He is exercising his right as a globally respected champion of human rights to express his disappointment with Zuma and the direction taken in recent years by the ANC.

3) Tutu has never expressed hatred for anyone! That comment is totally out of line.

Bishop Tutu was fighting Apartheid when you only a gleam in your father's eye, Baleni. Do you honestly believe what you say? Or is your every utterance just an exercise in revolutionary rhetoric?

The Archbishop Emeritus deserves an apology for this appalling attack on his character.
Shame on you Baleni.

And by the by, I am not religious; I am an agnostic. But I'd have to bre blind not to recognise genuine anguish for the state of the ANC when I see it. The 'Bish' is the 'real deal'. You, Baleni, are a poseur. (Look that up, too.)

Zuma in proclaiming his innocense said that he wanted "his day in court", well Mr Zuma so do we. We want to know if you were guilty of the crimes and corruption of which you are accused. If you are proved innocent in a court of law, all of the people of South Africa will rejoice. If however you are appointed as president of the country with this cloud of suspicion hanging over you, you will never no not ever be able to expect South Africans to behave with honesty and integrity. This country needs moral regeneration, it is full of greed, crime and corruption, who is going to rescue it from the fate that awaits it if these issues are not dealt with. Then we can all just close our eyes and pull the chain... that will be the destination we will all have earned.

Desmond Tutu, like all of us, has a right to his opinion. We cannot criticize any man for expressing opinions. He s not speaking out of turn, he has not accused Zuma of being guilty, he just wants the man's innocence to be proved, or disproved, transparently. Religion and politics does mix because politics has an affect on all people. If your religion says that all men are equal then you need to make comments which will ensure that governments will ensure this. Tutu did not support Mbeki's AIDS policies and has always sided with Human Rights.

I am not religious, but I respect Tutu's right to an opinion.

Mokgadi,

The NPA are not the deciding factor in Zuma's guilt, the court is.

The South African legal system needs to have 100% certainty that a crime was committed by an individual for that individual to be convicted. If there is a slight doubt in that 100%, the decision will not go the prosecutions way. Therefore, the NPA are deciding, that if there was interferance by the Mbeki government, even if Zuma was corrupt, the case against him will be weaker, and therefore will not result in a conviction, and to proceed would be a waste of time and money.

If he took money as a bribe, he STILL took money as a bride. It doesnt matter if Mbeki was talking with the head of the NPA or not, but that is how the justice system works. He should go to court, and face the music. what is he afraid of?

If the NPA drop the charges on a legal technicality, there will always be a cloud over his head. the courts can only decide guilt or not.

I'm not a religious man, but I'm very proud to stand with Arch. Tutu at the moment. The ANC is hopelessly corrupt & I'm no longer proud to be a South African because of their transparently self serving actions.

Thank goodness we have people like Tutu who are willing to critique and oppose!!

One person who has lost moral compass is Tutu. This person is really an embarrassment now. he has just fallen from grace so fast its unbelievable. He likes limelight and this will cost him respect. Actually who does he think he is. he is discrediting himself with these senseless statements.

The Bishop needs attention

Clearly Tutu is on a campaign strategy for one of the organisations running for elections, and definately not for the ANC! Something is wrong with the Bishop! He is hungry for public attention and he is seeking it in a wrong way by hating another child of GOD (Zuma). We as the public have long ignored his cry for attention, Let Mvume Dandala pray for this man as he pray for his dying party as well!!

The Bishop needs attention

Clearly Tutu is on a campaign strategy for one of the organisations running for elections, and definately not for the ANC! Something is wrong with the Bishop! He is hungry for public attention and he is seeking it in a wrong way by hating another child of GOD (Zuma). We as the public have long ignored his cry for attention, Let Mvume Dandala pray for this man as he pray for his dying party as well!!

Simphiwe Dlamini UKZN Westville

it you and the rest of us arch.speaking out is not unpatriotic but more patriotic than we realise because we tend to turn a blind eye on what elected representatives of the people get up to.fifteen years into a democratic dispensation is long enough for them to have acquired such wealth that they not resort to criminal activity and emotional blackmail.the likes of zuma and the rest of them can't hold the country to ransom for post-apartheid crimes.they should let the rule of law that they fought for and others died for to prevail.no to political solutions to legal matters.tutu is one of the few leaders we still have who is prepared to speak out against any form of ill-treatment and conduct.

Siphiwo siphiwo,

your "world vs. Zuma" mentality seems to misguide you. Tutu was in fact an outspoken critic of Mbeki's authoritarian leadership style, which you seem to have conveniently forgotten, do you remember the following ?; 'Tutu said, among other things: "We should not too quickly want to pull rank and to demand an uncritical, sycophantic, obsequious conformity', this in reference to mbeki, which led to the headline "Mbeki Slams Tutu.",
(What about 'thabo's terrible tutu tirade' as an option?.

The truth is that Tutu seemed a lot more lucid and level-headed in his criticism of Zuma when compared to the messy, heavy handed rebuttal that he was given. It seems to me that yes, he has a point, just as he did with Mbeki.

desmond tutu is out of line, we know that he has been in connection with the government and he is a peace maker. but you can tell that by the way he is talking it's something personal.no one is forced to vote for a party or for a leader they do not want or believe in. if the old man feels this way about jz he must do wants right for him and stop causing noice that is not called for. he is against anc and clearly for cope... if thats the case for him, why doesn't he focus on putting his vote where he see's it's better for him and stop disrespecting and undermining jz.... i personally have lost respsct for the bishop... step down, you are old now

Mr Tutu

what a statement, you seem to be speaking out of line these days...do yourself a favour and stick to the matters of the church and leave politics to be

He just wants another award...

If Tutu doesnt like Zuma its okay but he must stop influening other people he should rather vote for whoever he feels is fit for presidency,but if he had a problem with the guy there were platforms like the Polokwane conference where he could have elected the person he wanted or there is even elections he can vote for whoever but thanks to democracy we ordinary citizens we will elect our leader the Arch should respect that

It is a myth that politics and religion dont mix. Religion has always been an integral part of politics, in fact when it began it was so intertwined that no one would know the difference. The most important part of a democracy is that there are people with opposing view points debating and airing grievances and points of view. At this point in time it is vital that leaders with the stature of Emirentus Desmond Tutu speak out and check the balances of the multi billion rand driven ANC. He has a good understanding of international perspectives on South Africa and has our best interests at heart. I wish Guv Mbeki and Nelson Mandela would do the same. I'm disappointed that there is no word from Mr Mandela with regards to the attendance of the Dalai Lama, especially since it was by his invitation. But I suppose at this point it is in his interest to try and save the organisation he suffered to build for so many years. Its a pity the organisation has lost its way so deeply.

It is a sad day for SAfrica when we have the reaction to Desmond Tutu's public comments aligned along largely racial lines. I note that his critics are mainly black SAfricans and his supporters are non-black SAfricans. The black SAfricans tend to ignore the moral aspects of Jacob Zuma's obvious unsuitability for the position of president of SAfrica. Desmond Tutu, as the moral voice of the country, is voicing this from his conscience. But our black brothers seem incapable of looking at it in this way.
Heaven help us as SAfrica continues to lose it's moral compass as it already has in the case of it's refusal to condemn Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
Rick Bennent

Bishop is telling the truth. We as South Africans are not happy with Jacob Zuma's moral conduct. Jacob Zuma in very immoral and he has numerous corruption charges against. Zuma keeps on running away from justice like a rabbit. Many of us as South Africans are going to show our dissapointment with the ANC come the 22nd April when we vote. Zuma will never be president of this beautiful land - believe me. He can only dream about it. This is South Africa - a land of patriots. I do not always agree with everything Bishop Tutu says, however this time he is sincerely warning the gullible individuals who think there is future in this country under the ANC Zuma-led government. By the way, Did you watch "CUTTING EDGE" this week - it showed what will happen to the rest of South Africans who are confortable with the damage the ANC is doing to this country in the next comming 5 years if Zuma becomes the president.

To all of the people that are quoted above:

There were good priests that stood up during Apartheid and said "No".

Tutu was one of them.

And there are good priests that stand up now during the new evil of corruption and say "No".

And Tutu is one of them.

The only question is - are you an old apartheid supporter - or a new corruption supporter ?

Or will you vote for justice ?