The Democratic Alliance and African National Congress have issued statements welcoming President Jacob Zuma’s apology that he “deeply regretted” the pain he caused his family, the ANC and South Africans after revelations that he fathered a child out of wedlock.
In her response to Zuma’s apology, Helen Zille on Saturday demonstrated why she is considered by so many to be such an outstanding leader: “Zuma must now match words with deeds … The Democratic Alliance welcomes President Zuma’s apology to the South African public. But words are not enough, he must now focus on repairing the damage he has done to the fight against HIV/Aids. It is worth recalling that Jacob Zuma has apologised in exactly these terms before. He must show that his deeds match his words. Leadership is as leadership does.”
Her willingness to show forgiveness, calling the president out on his failure to live up to his previous promise and demand that he begin to repair the damage he has done to the HIV/Aids campaign is of the stuff that top world leaders are made of. It balances compassion with responsibility and is a credit to her and the party.
In turn, the ANC too are showing remarkable progress in their response.
On Saturday a close Zuma loyalist confirmed to the Saturday Star that the ANC leaders and Zuma entered a “sex pact” shortly after his election as party president at Polokwane in 2007, and that he was warned not to embarrass the ANC with sexual revelations similar to his 2006 rape trial. That pact was broken and the source confirmed that ANC senior leaders — while publicly loyal — were very perturbed by the revelations.
This came a day after they released a statement saying the ANC had taken note of the criticisms of the public and the media and needed a short break to consider them.
This was followed by a full blown apology by the president, rather than an apology plus blame game, and the acceptance thereof by the ANC and the Democratic Alliance.
This does not mean that everything in the whole world is hunky dory and we can now dance around a tree and go home for apple pie.
It actually means something far more important.
It demonstrates a formula founded in honesty, which recognises problems and attempts to deal with them, as opposed to bluster and trying to deflect blame on to others, will bring about worthwhile solutions rather than deep division.
More importantly it will earn the respect of South Africans and the international community.
……and so life goes on, so does Zuma and so does the ANC while the potholes stay, financial shortfalls at lower levels of government are frustrating suppliers and pardoning prisoners becomes a national joke. Viva what???
The apology was weak and hardly ‘full-blown’ as you describe it to be. No mention was made of the damage Zuma caused to the HIV AIDS campaign, by Zuma, as if to say that his sleeping around unprotected is not a worthy issue for apology.
The response from Zille is that ‘Zuma must match his words with deeds’ can only mean one thing and one ‘deed’ that requires doing. Zuma should resign.
In any event, Zuma has given Zille the best gift he could possibly give her; – hundreds and thousands of new votes at the next 2011 elections.
Ta.
“Actions speak louder than words”
Politicians should ALWAYS be judged on their actions and behaviour, not their words, and certainly not the words of their speech-writers and spin doctors (after 3 days of “deliberation”).
Whether these soothing words from Zuma represent genuine contrition, or are merely an insincere sop to get the media and public off his back remains to be seen.
Over and above the need to set an example in terms of personal conduct, the fight against HIV and aids, the equal treatment of women etc, how about the issue of “you are 67 years old, for goodness sake – act your age!”
I fear that like the Tiger Woods and John Terry scandals, there are many skeletons still rattling around in closets, and much sleaze still to come out of the woodwork.
20 Children in total? Hmmn – we will see – rumour has it that this is far from the total tally.
I’m afraid Dear Leader will never amount to anything. He simply owes too much to too many people to ever be effective. He needs to move on (but where to? and then: who’s next? Oh, my!!).
Amusing article – presume it’s tongue-in-cheek? Make sure you don’t hold your breath waiting for the ‘formula founded in honesty’ to unfold!
I am sorry, but the apology was rushed, forced and NOT full blown. When he demands that we back off and leave it between the families, he is shrugging us off and NOT acknowledging our stake as a public in it. He didn’t apologize to the people of South Africa, but to his handlers whom he almost reluctantly realized that he has shamed. He’ll be back in another scandal again. He cannot stay away; he doesn’t know how. And the ANC will defend him right through, before they show any contrition. It’s business as usual, except that people are not stupid anymore. They don’t believe Zuma and the ANC anymore, and the ANC may realize that they are NOT prepared to die for him anymore, whether by AIDS or by making sacrifices. Why should they ? He doesn’t care about them but his tribe (i.e. his wives and children and other imminent additions to his harem). So, the ANC response was tepid, defenmsive as usual and as dishonest as it always has been. The ANC doesn’t stand for anything anymore. All they are about is just empty words; no commitment to action. Plus, it was NOT about the country, but about the ANC and nobody else. They have a lot of explaining to do and a lot of apologies to the country
He needs to take an HIV test and share the results with the nation, pledge his support for HIV campaigns and step down before the end of the month….
I laughed aloud when I first saw the heading for your article. A little too late from the ANC and Helen Zille can afford to play the high ground since she got what she wanted, that Jacob Zuma’s personal failings can be linked to his political failings, basically the man will say anything as long as it means he get what he wants.
Laughed aloud the second time when I read about the “sex pact”, then shivered because I had horrible, horrible images in my head.
How far the ANC has fallen that the man they chose to represent them had so many, many faults and had to be restrained through a pact not to embarrass them.
So today, for the first time, I thought to myself, “I miss Thabo Mbeki.” Sure he was an autocrat and his beliefs about HIV/AIDS was a bit wackadoodle but at least the man had dignity.
Put his wrong, misguided beliefs about how to treat HIV/AIDS against Zuma’s shower and unsafe sex practices and its a toss up who did more damage to the campaign to prevent/treat HIV/AIDS.
Nowhere can I find any mention in Zuma’s speech of an apology. He did not apologise for anything. He simply expressed regret at having hurt people. Regret is NOT Apology.
The man has no shame.
The further maturing of our democracy has accelerated in one week, from what might have taken the next fifteen years to achieve.
As much as I am titilated by the quickening demise of the ANC, I am also becoming hopeful for a stronger democracy as we turn away from one party domination, starting from the next 2011 elections.
Staunch ANC supporters are turning their backs on the ANC because of Zuma.
Zille does not need to be shrill, and is wisely not antagonising since this is one present that cannot be engineered in a million years. The champaign is on ice.
The only way to recover, for the ANC, is to fire Zuma. Cheers, daar gaat jy.
Hear, hear Patriot. Zuma should take an AIDS test and make it public. Sorry, I don’t buy the apology. Words are far too easy and he really had no choice. The very least I expect of my president is intergity. Zuma has failed us all – again!
Eish Traps, I think all of us want to be happy with this apology. The problem is that the first reaction was also considered, I don’t know what to make of this.
I also wrote my thoughts on this subject on http://ingqondo.blogspot.com
What’s to forgive by Zille? She is the opposition fps and there to point out where the government/president go wrong. And what it/he must do to remedy. And to counterbalance their wrongs with correct. Which she and the DA seem to be doing.
If Zuma made a pass at her then she may perhaps forgive him, but I don’t think that happened. But then again, with Zuma (all due respect) you may never know.
“Example is not the main thing in influencing others – it is the ONLY thing.! Albert Schweitzer
Unless JZ becomes an example to the nation of self-discipline, integrity, honesty, decency and respect for others, he is failing as a leader – he is failing the nation, the ANC, himself and the thousands of men and women who laid down their lives for our disenfranchised millions and the freedoms and dignity enshrined in our Constitution.
…”The winds of Change”
@Perplexed – “The winds of change…” are rarely permanent if inspired by a stinky fart. Castration however, is forever.
While the delivery and the content of the Zuma apology may have been inadequate, the fact that it was given at all must be seen as a minor triumph for democracy in South Africa. In other nations on the African continent, the behaviour of the President is beyond even the possibility of criticism regardless of the scandal (unless you want unsympathetic men to arrive at your door and introduce you to an electronic cattlerod). Zuma’s apology proves that Zuma is subject to public opinion, as articulated through a free press, and his actions must reflect the high level of trust that we (the public) have placed in him. A most memorable movie quote goes: “People shouldn’t be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people”. As long as Zuma (and those like him) are still frightened enough of the public to apologise for his/their misconduct then there is still hope for South Africa.
P.S. did anyone find the naked fawning over Hellen Zille in this blog a tad much? Maybe it was just me.
TRAPS READ THE MERCURY TODAY. More children coming into view.
Consider that they maybe putting on a pragmatic Facade to save Face.