‘I’m not leaving any time soon’
Defiant Zuma fires salvo at his critics and tells them he’ll be around for ‘better or worse’
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has rejected calls for him to resign, saying doing so would be tantamount to accepting defeat by his enemies.
Addressing ANC supporters in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, a buoyant Zuma reiterated his stance that he would not step down — this despite the growing dissent with his leadership.
“They have been saying Zuma must go. I am not leaving. One day I will write a book that will reveal all,” Zuma said to loud cheers from the audience.
The president’s remarks come amid growing calls from civil society movement SaveSA, ANC veterans, including Anglo American chairman Sipho Pityana and Trevor Manuel, and national executive committee members including chief whip Jackson Mthembu and Mathole Motshekga for him to step down.
Cosatu affiliates, including the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union and the Communications Workers Union, have also joined the chorus of those wanting the president to quit.
During the weekend Zuma addressed three ANC cadres forums in Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal.
On Friday he took a swipe at those calling him a “dog” and accusing him of being corrupt.
Addressing an ANC cadres forum in Pietermaritzburg, Zuma said he was well aware of who was stealing public money and that he was “watching them”, but not acting on the knowledge.
Speaking mainly in Zulu, Zuma said: “It’s like those who steal today — they say Zuma steals while they are the worst thieves. They have investigated me all over but they are finding nothing because I’m not doing anything.
“If they have found it, it would be over [for me]. Those are the thieves and I know they are stealing. I’m just watching them. I know them,” he said.
His comments have landed him in hot water after disclosing that he was turning a blind eye to those stealing from the public purse.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said it was “embarrassing that a head of state” was boasting about failing to act against criminal and corrupt activities.
“He’s spitting on the constitution. It says the rule of law is irrelevant,” said Maimane.
He said he would take up the matter with the Hawks this week when he meets them to discuss the criminal charges he laid against Zuma on Tuesday, relating to the public protector’s state capture report.
Maimane laid the charges under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, after the public protector found that Zuma had failed to act on bribery allegations involving the Gupta family.
“Nobody will trust Zuma when he says he will tackle corruption. The reason he does not want to prosecute these people is because they are part of his faction.”
Advocate Paul Hoffman SC of the Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa said Zuma’s remarks displayed his poor understanding of his constitutional duties.
“It’s dereliction of his constitutional obligation to uphold the rule of law, if he knows who is stealing and he does nothing about that. It’s yet another manifestation of his complete lack of insight into the duties and responsibilities of a president in our constitutional democratic dispensation.
“It ought to worry the ANC that he has failure of insight on these duties, that he’s prepared to stand up and say things like that,” said Hoffman. But Zuma remains defiant. “Let’s stop worrying about nothing. I will always be here, for better or for worse,” said the president.
Zuma also said positions did not matter; what was important was the ANC.
“A position is just a by-theway thing. It’s just a reward from comrades when they see you are working hard . . . you are not given it permanently, such that when you are removed you start a war. You move over . . .”
Insiders say Zuma’s visits to KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC’s biggest province in terms of membership, is a bid to ensure that branches rally behind the candidacy of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to head the ANC.
ANC sources in the province said Zuma would in coming months spend time addressing party members there and in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
“These are key provinces . . . in every ANC conference,” said a senior KwaZulu-Natal leader. Comment on this: write to tellus@sundaytimes.co.za or SMS us at 33971
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They have been saying Zuma must go. I am not leaving. I will reveal all