Zuma’s dignity violated
Eusebius McKaiser’s article “Trump, Zuma are worse than liars” (February 3) is completely beyond the pale and way outside the conventions of responsible journalism and freedom of expression — it is so repulsive that these slurs cannot be repeated here.
How this kind of invective and swear words, particularly against heads of state, slip past editorial controls is perplexing to say the least, and can only fuel speculation of tacit support for such uncouth and repugnant language. One can only imagine the uproar that a tit-for-tat of this kind of vitriol could generate in the media space.
The specious and grotesque comparison between the two leaders notwithstanding, it is important for McKaiser to appreciate that inherent in “freedom of speech” is refraining from violating the dignity of other people, including offending public sensibilities.
Though democratic leaders such as President Jacob Zuma do not necessarily always open up to journalists about their common viewpoints, their rapport with the media is absolutely essential in a democracy for robust media engagement and unencumbered participation of the people in public affairs. Unfortunately, this kind of writing strains relations between leaders and journalists.
Without dignifying this vitriol with a blow-by-blow response, Zuma is not a demagogue but a democratically elected leader who had sacrificed for and served this country devoutly for many years before he could even become president.
He has spiritedly championed pro-poor policies and leads a concerted transformation programme in the country to build an inclusive economy, which may not go well with many of the detractors and beneficiaries of the previous status quo, including some people in certain media establishments or their proxies.