Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Zuma gets the facts wrong on poll trail
WANT God and the ancestors to turn against you? Want to call bad luck to yourself ?
President Jacob Zuma has told potential voters the sure way to fall out of divine favour is to vote for an independent candidate, or for any party other than his.
The ANC president was on the campaign trail in Soweto yesterday, pulling out all the stops to punt the ruling party.
He relied on speaking about the sacrifice of old Struggle heroes including the likes of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and the last three surviving Rivonia trialists Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni and Denis Goldberg.
He also hauled out “The ANC will rule until Jesus returns” sloganeering and reminded jubilant crowds of the ANC members sentenced to death under apartheid rule.
“It was the ANC members who went to exile, trained as soldiers to fight the apartheid regime. It is for this reason that when Jesus comes back – he will still find the ANC in power,” Zuma said.
He made the comments while urging his supporters to vote for the ANC and no other party, including independent candidates contesting the elections on Wednesday.
Zuma’s claims of ANC members being the first to die under apartheid imprisonment is contradicted by historical archives, including those in possession of the Justice and Correctional Services department.
According to historical records, it was PAC founder member Jeff Masemola who was the first person under apartheid to be sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island in 1963.
Masemola, along with the now retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke and 13 others, were charged with conspiracy to commit sabotage.
According to the archives, PAC members were also the first to be sentenced to death in 1960 for their roles in the Poqo Uprisings.
Mandela and his co-accused were sentenced to life in 1964.
Zuma also took direct aim at his arch enemy, DA leader Musi Maimane.
“Do not vote for stooges,” he said, referring to Maimane whose party was coincidentally also in Soweto yesterday ahead of their “We Can Win Rally” at the Dobsonville Stadium today.
“He is politically naïve. He does not know Madiba’s views on the DA.
“Why is he using Madiba as his party’s icon? Why can’t he call the names of party veterans like Vorster, Verwoerd, PW Botha and others?”
Maimane and his fellow black members were “confused and do not know whether they are black or white”, Zuma charged.
He also took swipes at UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, EFF leader Julius Malema and Cope’s Mosiuoa Lekota for defecting from the ANC. TIDES High today . .12.10am, 12.54pm Tomorrow . . . . .1.12am, 1.48pm Low today . . . . .6.41am, 7.08pm Tomorrow . . . . .7.36am, 8.01pm Spring tides . . . . . . . . . . . .Aug 2
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