ANC astounded by Zille attack on Zuma

The African National Congress is astounded by the extraordinary attack by Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille on the person of President Jacob Zuma reported in today's Sowetan (12 May 2009).

Even by Zille's standards of personal invective, this latest attack is an unprecedented example of Zuma-hate. Zille's outburst is deeply offensive and should be roundly condemned.

It is unfortunate that Zille has not moved beyond the spiteful rhetoric of her election campaign. Despite her concerted attempts to vilify President Zuma, the vast majority of South Africans have chosen him to lead the country.

Instead of answering legitimate criticism about the composition of her provincial cabinet, she has chosen to insult and demonise the President of the Republic of South Africa.

Instead of focusing on the real issues that face South Africans, Zille is obsessed with her personal campaign against Zuma.

It shows that she is increasingly out of touch with the mood of the nation.

The ANC is certain that this does not reflect the official position of the DA, and calls on the party to distance itself from Zille's comments.

Statement issued by Jessie Duarte, African National Congress spokesperson, May 12 2009

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Zuma is a self-confessed womaniser with deeply sexist views, who put all his wives at risk by having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman. [The ANC's] professions of support for women’s rights ring hollow indeed against this background."

Helen Zille, quoted in The Sowetan

 

Related links

Articles:

COSATU disgusted by Zille's slur »

ANCYL condemns fake racist girl Zille »

Zille: The statement that caused the trouble »

Old racist cabal of Tony Leon in control of DA - Tony Ehrenreich »

Helen Zille a sick woman - YCL »

Comments

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responses to this article

Uncalled for Mrs Zille is totally out of order on this one, why does he have to attack the man? Durign the election campaign it was ok but now?? We need to move forward by Thato on May 12 2009, 11:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

bitter pill Zille....you disappoint me..... and i'm a 40 yr old white guy! while freedom of speech is guaranteed...... you're becoming VERY bitter! face it. less than 17% of the voters like you......... and the way your'e carrying on, maybe i'll decide to vote for . .more Mr Zuma next time.. WHY are you SO determined that our new president must fail? the funny thing is........I think he's actually going to get it right.........better than Mbeki and Mandela.............so, its time for you to stop being such a cow! Awoman scorned........seems to me you actually have a crush on our new president?! . .less by super duper on May 12 2009, 11:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Too far I think Mrs Zille has gone too far here and I am very dissappointed as well. We all need to pray, be positive and focus on the future and what we can do for the country. Making comments like that won't help us (or her) at all. Let's try and . .more work tpgether here. We have sooo many things going for our country as the moment with the Confederations Cup next month as well as the big one, the soccer World Cup next year. I know all the stadiums will be finished and look beautiful and all of this will mean more tourists money for our country. I just hope Zuma will stick to everything he said he will be doing / actions he will take as president. If he does, I think he will do very well. All we can do is just pray. . .less by positive on May 12 2009, 12:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Stop being so defensive, ANC and thato as for bitter pill, you are just unbelievable. Zuma undertook for his new government to stop being so defensive, so how about starting now. Anyone is perfectly entitled to state whatever opinion they have on any cabinet, whether the ANC . .more national cabinet or the DA provincial cabinet. And anyone, Zille included, is perfectly entitled to state her opinion on Zuma's actions, and perhaps even more so than men, given that she is a woman and her own previously strongly expressed opinions on Zuma's irresponsible actions. Seems to me that the ANC is trying to make these issues go away by pressurising people into not expressong opinions on them. Dream on! . .less by Al on May 12 2009, 12:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Are any of the things that Zille has said about Zuma untrue? Er...no, actually. by Al on May 12 2009, 12:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Naughty Zille She is however entitled to her opnion by OBS on May 12 2009, 12:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Aids Risk Its simply the truth --why deny it ? by Ge org on May 12 2009, 12:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

to bitter pill (or should I call you Julius?) I have analysed your reply carefully. The content and then the poor grammar, spelling and punctuation. Julius, you REALLY should not try to push your horribly biased and poorly thought through point of view totally devoid of logic and argumentive . .more process while pretending to be a 40 year old white guy. . .less by Al on May 12 2009, 12:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I have just noticed that ANC statement came from Jessie Duarte 'nuff said. Nomal Jessie rubbish! I suppose politicsweb publish it in the interests of fairness, but really should they? by Al on May 12 2009, 12:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@superdrooler any statement issued by Jessie Duarte should be taken with a pinch of salt , this is a masterfull piece , devised to bring seperation between the DA leadership and her Constituency , you have been pencil whipped good..... by pinchofsalt on May 12 2009, 12:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@super duper LOL! Zille is acting like a bitter ex-wife... get back to Cape Town and prove yourself with your actions Helen, they speak louder than your words! by TM on May 12 2009, 12:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Truth is truth Madam Zille To be elected president by unfair means does not wash away your sins and make Zuma Godly and holy. Zille is speaking facts. You cannot wish immorality away. We as young people must know that you can have as many girlfirends as much as you can acquire them . .more , Zuma , who is a president has set an example and it is no purpose to go and do a test , this president has shown. You can sleep with them without a condom,just shower. You can do corruption and you cannot go to jail if you are connected. You can be a President even if you have Sub A, why bother to study. He has many questions to answer. What happened to Thami Zulu? He must account as a Head of Mbokodo or are we going to experience a situation now that atrocities are going to happen and he buries his head in the sand because he is called the president. He has proved to be useful idiot to prosper SACP agenda and they can kill to protect him. There is no democracy here, its dog eat dog. . .less by Simphiwe on May 12 2009, 12:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

His moral behaviour not excusable Over the top ? Perhaps. But the man is PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA and shouldn't behave like an alley cat. Not then or certainly not now. by Reitz on May 12 2009, 12:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Uncouth I also voted Zille, and for the first time ever I agree with Duarte. Zille is totally out of sink with the mood in this country. Her biggest problems have always been image / perception issues. Outbursts like these will only help pay into the common held . .more view among most South Africans that she is a rude ranting uncouth white woman. Malema politics. . .less by x on May 12 2009, 12:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

More people die of AIDS in SA every 4 days than died in 9/11 Unless he has been tested he is an AIDS risk. It is a comment and a fact - only the press sensationalize it. by Charlie Ruckin on May 12 2009, 12:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Al Helen,.... is that you? by ? on May 12 2009, 12:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

No comment on JZ's behaviour? ... So clearly it is better to sleep (unprotected) with HIV positive women than it is to condone it. Little wonder the Ministry of heallth has been a complete disaster. by Lusikisiki on May 12 2009, 12:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Must the Nation just suddenly forget about Zuma's past? Many patriotic South African still believe the new president is an embarrassment to the nation and they are entitled to do so until the spin trickery is once and for all cleared. the morality and ethics of the SA Presidency is still under question and . .more this cloud won't just evaporate with time. For the sake of the Nation and the incumbent President. . .less by Viney on May 12 2009, 12:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Truth "Speak the truth and shame the devil.." by Melulski on May 12 2009, 12:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Al Your intellect & grammar no so great either. Suppose not expected from a white guy at all? Maybe your gene pool tainted by the tar brush too somewhere along the line. by GK on May 12 2009, 12:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@? Julius is that u ? by Jessie on May 12 2009, 12:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Are we to assume... ...from the above remarks that we are all expected to drop moral standards and accept the status quo as the norm? In other wiords morality has nothing to do with anything as long as there is ability. by Willy on May 12 2009, 13:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

She forgot Zille forgot to mention that he is a crook and a thief who is not afraid to steal the public's money or accept bribes when offered.... Viva ANC, steal all you can from South Africa!! by Abacus on May 12 2009, 13:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

wrinkled zille ur underlying hate for native african ppl comes to the fore once again. this deep rooted hate has reached bubble point, this makes me very happy wrinkled pale. all you dum folks(coloured, indian & black) that gave the 50 % leveraged votes in the western . .more cape will continue living your second hand lifestyles in your shacks and blaady pathethic belhar and mitchels plain. delivery has been forthcoming from the ANC albeit at a slow pace it has been coming, efficiency and a little touch ups was all that we needed to fine tune. Look at where peak construction is CPT, white surburban area. Look where the new Malls are being ( i mean real malls) built in this province. You wrinkled fake pale, beta watch what u say or you'll end up in the African Kingdom as a beer brewer............ . .less by Aston on May 12 2009, 13:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

HELEN ZILLE! HELEN ZILLE What is it so right with you Zille? You are such a disappointment! by Nkagi on May 12 2009, 13:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

put that female dog on a leash.. Zuma is your president...its a bitter pill to swallow....but c'mon... get with the program by Poop-scooper on May 12 2009, 13:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Madam...did hubby burn your bloomers this morning or did he mix the whites with colours again by Launderer on May 12 2009, 13:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille's Men Moneyweb, how about doing an article on HZ cabinet and a brief CV of her appointees experience prior and post 1994. by HvnT on May 12 2009, 14:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

drop it please Zille you lost my vote when the DA called me on my cell phone (where exactly did they get my number?) to remind me to vote for you. Now all this C***. You insult your own voters intelligence by continously reminding them how useless Zuma is when they are . .more all perfectly capable of making their own minds up. It was not your fear campaign of stopping Zuma that got you votes in this last election - it was just intelligent voters realising that the ANC needs an opposition and of all the P******* parties, yours is the most hopeful. Keep you mouth shut and get to work and take the moral high ground. The ANC has 15 years experience in government, the DA has none and has no-one of the same calibre as Trevor Manuel and others. If you screw this up you will never get another chance. Mud slinging is unprofessional and in very poor taste. Surely you have more dignity than that. . .less by whitey in kenilworth on May 12 2009, 14:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille and Zuma Coming from Lyin' Jess, Zille should take the attack as a compliment. After all, a party spokesperson who calls a black journalist racist for querying if Zuma REALLY [had time to] read all the blogs on the ANC website isn't going to be able to handle a . .more complex issue like this any better than Inkwenkwe can work out change [the Nando's ad flattered him]. Com'n ANC, don't shoot the messenger: # Did His-Excellency-the-most-revered-President Zuma sleep with an HIV positive woman? - Yes or No answers only, please. # Did His-Excellency-the-most-revered-President Zuma condomise - yes or no? # Could he pass the virus/"syndrome" on to his wives? Yes? No? Duarte/the ANC seems to be implying that the spread of HIV and AIDS is not one of "he real issues that face South Africans". Mbeki rides again? Is that why B Hogan got undeployed from Health? What about Zuma's promises for press freedom and reconciling with the opposition. It seems he is only comfortable with baaskaap ministers like Mulder & van Schalkwyk . .less by Loudly South African on May 12 2009, 14:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Helen Zille's comment on the Sowetan_12.05.2009 Godzilla is @ it again, trying to discredit our president. No matter what utter nonsence she utters, this country will never again be ruled by the West nor the racist thugs that once exploited this country. She can shout at the top of her voice, @ the end . .more of the day Mr. Zuma is her president as well. The way she's carrying on she will soon lose the Cape Colony. . .less by A concerned reader on May 12 2009, 14:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The politics of division continues - DA simply showing its;' true colours Bodes badly for any of their plans to grow beyond their support from minorities. Also she was diverting attention from her all-white male cabinet which was definitely not chosen based on skill/experience. Her education MEC's main experience is . .more fishing. . .less by ThaboM on May 12 2009, 14:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Supposed ANCYL article Guys, I have a strong suspicion that there is some kind of information warfare going on here. The article link has within its title "mourns the passing way of comrade ivy matsepe-casaburri", so my guess is that someone managed to hack their way . .more into the content management system and replace that article with the above bullsh*t. What amazes me is that some people see fit to agree with the commentary in any way. It's so outrageous I can't see how anyone would fail to question the likelihood of this being uttered intentionally out of an official mouthpiece of the ANC. . .less by Andrew Thomas-Woolf on May 12 2009, 16:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Truth hurts She is just telling the truth, if the ANC is so uncomfortable with the truth they shouldn't have made him president but they were too arrogant for that so they must live with the consequences. by Dave on May 12 2009, 16:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Supposed ANCYL article I am referring to the statement available here: http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=128522&sn=Detail and . .more here: http://www.ancyouthleague.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73:we-mourn-the-passing-the-passing-way-of-comrade-ivy-matsepe-casaburri&catid=39:news Content of which is: " HELEN ZILLE CONTNUES TO EXCEL AS NUMBER ONE RACIST AND DISTRACTOR OF GENDER STRUGGLES PDF Print E-mail The ANC YL is disgusted by remarks attributed to the racist girl Helen Zille, who when failing to defend her stupid and sexist decision to appoint predominantly white males into her cabinet, attacks the President of the Republic of South Africa. The ANC YL calls on Helen Zille to respect the office of the President of the Republic of South Africa and stop making stupid and degrading remarks against President Jacob Zuma. Zille has appointed an all male cabinet of useless people, majority of whom are her boyfriends and concubines so that she can continue to sleep around with them, yet she claims to have the moral authority to question our President. If the fake racist girl Zille continues to speak hogwash like she has been doing during elections, we will take militant action against her, and demonstrate to her..." etc . .less by Andrew Thomas-Woolf on May 12 2009, 16:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zuma Zille just stated a fact. He had sex with a woman who has HIV, and exposed his three wives to it. The ANC Youth respond with an amateurish hate-filled response that spin lies about HER sexual impropriety, while dismissing his established sexual misconduct. by Mike on May 12 2009, 16:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Doesn't make sense So, Zille makes some factual statements in response to complaints that her cabinet constitutes sexism and she's not allowed to point out that these same complainants have no problem with Zuma's admitted sexism (and foolishness)? Premiere Zille has . .more already stated that the cabinet members were selected on the basis of merit. What's going on here is petty politicking from the anti-Zille brigade, nothing more and nothing less. Hopefully Premiere Zille will not rise to this clear case of baiting. . .less by CTheB on May 12 2009, 18:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Recusal of Black Judge One of the first three judges that had to recuse himself at the rape did so because his sister had a child from Zuma.This Sowetan publication is nothing new but a regurgitated statement made before the election. by Other Mike on May 12 2009, 19:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Astounded HA HA HA HA HA , ASTOUNDED HA HA HA HA what anc C*** , the IQ 66 speaks . What astounds me is that the have killed thousands , hundreds of thousand of there own black people holding back the AIDS DRUGS . ha ha ha ha, and the anc are . .more astounded , can you believe this C*** . This is africa way of thinking , tribal way of thinking , SA is puked . . .less by Dilligaf on May 13 2009, 00:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The ANC / DA gender war The DA leader is a woman - the ANC leader is a man - round one to Zille Zille believes in appointing people based on talent - the ANC want her to appoint people based on skin colour and gender quotas, a bit like their affirmative action policies. . .more Zille has made such good decisions in the past that she was voted top mayor out of 700 global contenders. So if she believes that talent is more important than being politically correct, then I am totally happy to go with her judgement call - round two to Zille Zuma has several wives. He also believes that he is entitled to have unprotected sex with other additional women. This is all public knowledge because he was tried for the rape of an Aids victim. If he catches Aids then he passes it on to his wives. This, it seems, was not a concern to him. As a woman, I understand Zille's disgust at this, and any Party that chooses him as a leader consequently does not really have the moral authority to shout too loudly about woman's equality and rights. So round three, also to Zille. . .less by Sad days on May 13 2009, 00:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

FREEDOM TO INSULT OTHER CULTURES! IF YOU FREEDOM TO IMSULT ME AND MY CULTURE BECAREFULL , MY FREEDOM STARTS WHERE YOURS END!! MY MOTHERS BACKYARD FARM IS YOUR GUEST FARM I NEED THAT LAND BACK EVEN OUR GRAVEYARDS STILL EXIST THERE !!! NON OF YOU BROUGHT LAND IN . .more YOUR SUITECASES FROM EUROPE WHEN COMING TO COLONISE SOUTH AFRICA!! MIND YOUR FOLK STORIES ZILLE (TO YOUR UNCLES), I MAY RECLAIM THIS LAND BY ANYMEANS AT MY DISPOSAL!! WHICH BORDER DID YOU ENTER FROM, WITH THIS LAND (SAND AND bEACHES) IN YOUR SUITE-CASES!! RESPECT MY CULTURE ALL ELSE!! DRINK YOUR COFFEE WITH A COOL HEAD OR GET BACK YO YOUR UNCLE IN ENGLAND YOU ARE BECOMING NAUGHTY AFTER BEING FED WITH MILK AND HONEY IN AFRICA!! . .less by MZONDI on May 13 2009, 06:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

tactical shift Do we have an error of judgement or a tactical shift. When the politcal forces opposed to the ANC deliberate on the political way forward they usually do so within a medium which is seldom accessed by the masses. President Zumas past is not . .more going to be forgotten and the political opposition have every right to use this to their advantage. By using the Sowetan the message is now reaching a wider audience The YCL, ANCYL, COSATU, etc better get used to this. Politics is not for sissies . .less by amused on May 13 2009, 08:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@MZONDI Welcome to ZanuPF and Zimbabwean politics. I'm sure you envy that country its phenomenal success at complete destruction and humiliation. by Zim Exile on May 13 2009, 09:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille drunk with her new found power We were so fast in forgiving the white apartheid government for killing, raping and committing gross human rights violating crimes but when it comes to Zuma, a black man, who made a human mistake we make it a point not to forgive him. Zille has no . .more right to insult the President of the Republic elected by the majority of this country. . .less by Sibusiso on May 13 2009, 12:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

grow up Zille Yawn!!! even your son does not like what you did helen Maree (zille) you'v lost it this time! Campaign mode is turned to low... i know we still have local government elections or what ever they are,coming very soon but then did you have . .more to belittle yourself like that. damn woman I'm happy I'm not one of your boys!!! I hear you are throwing a party for you and your cronies tonight (13 May)... pop that MOET and let him have the Dom Perignon... you know you like it like that! . .less by Motho on May 13 2009, 12:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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