ANC RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORTS ON PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AND REACTION TO COMMENTS BY HELEN ZILLE

The past few days have seen the African National Congress (ANC), its President Jacob Zuma, his family and children coming under intense pressure from the media, ordinary South Africans, political commentators and opposition parties over the private affairs of President Jacob Zuma.

This experience, painful as it is, has taught us many valuable lessons. We have noted all the concerns and criticism raised by many South Africans through the media and in private conversations.

The ANC, true to its character, has listened to and heard the concerns. President Jacob Zuma has also listened to and heard the concerns.

Having listened to your views on this matter, we now make the appeal that the ANC, President Jacob Zuma, his family and children be afforded an opportunity to reflect on the concerns. Out of respect for both families concerned and in the interest of protecting the privacy of both families and the children, we appeal to all South Africans - including the media and opposition parties - to respect the need for these families to be afforded space to privately reflect on this matter.

It is very unfortunate that the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Helen Zille does not find it appropriate (see here) to acknowledge that President Zuma has taken the country into his confidence by responding to the media frenzy on a matter very personal and private.

We find it also very opportunistic and disingenuous for Helen Zille to draw a parallel between a totally unconnected matter of the dropping of the charges of corruption against President of the ANC to the birth of his child. We want to put it on record, as it is also widely known by most South Africans, that the decision to drop the corruption charges against our President was the decision of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA). Neither the President of the ANC nor the ANC had any influence on the decision. It is very misleading and most mischievous of Helen Zille to claim, "if any institution of the state gets in his way it is effectively neutered."

The exclamation by Helen Zille that "during the past year we have witnessed the cynical manipulation that has turned the NPA and the Judicial Service Commission into extensions of the ANC to protect President Zuma" is equally without any basis in fact and is a figment of an active paranoid mind. It is very disturbing that Zille has decided to rubbish the birth of a little girl with innuendos and political posturing.

We fully agree with Helen Zille that South Africa is a constitutional democracy and ruling parties and their leaders are not above the law or social norms. The President of the ANC has not broken any law nor violated the prescriptions of our Constitution. 

Even during the most difficult and trying times the ANC and its President, did not use its majority to subvert our constitutional democracy or to act outside of the law, this is fact.

The ANC and its government programme on HIV and AIDS cannot and will not be threatened by incidents of any nature. Our government programme on HIV and Aids will be intensified come April this year.

All the infants under the age of one will receive ARV's from public health facilities, all people who test HIV positive will be afforded an opportunity to access ARV's when their CD 4 count is 350 or below, all pregnant women who test positive will immediately be put on ARV's. All South Africans are encouraged to go for voluntary testing and counselling so that they know their status and are able to protect and not infect those that they are involved with.

The sum total and outcome of the new strengthened, progressive and constructive approach by the ANC led government on HIV and AIDS will decrease the infant mortality as well as the death of mothers during child birth. The incredulous claim by Zille that our HIV and AIDS campaign will suffer "a ten years setback" as a result of President Zuma's relationship is at best preposterous or just plain madness.

The ANC and its government under President Zuma will ensure a well coordinated roll-out of ARVs, drastically strengthen maternal health services, integrate HIV and TB services, integrate HIV prevention in health services and strengthen programs to reduce sexual transmissions.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, February 5 2010

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