Zuma explains, and repeats, ANC first remark
President Jacob Zuma on Monday revisited and reiterated his controversial remark that the ruling party came before the country, saying he did not love South Africa less than the ANC but believed it was the only organisation that could lead South Africans to full emancipation.
“South Africa needs a united, strong, cohesive and effective African National Congress. It is in this context that I said at the KwaZulu-Natal ANC conference on the 7th of November 2015 that the ANC comes first,” Zuma said in a statement issued while he is attending the G20 summit in Turkey.
“I love the ANC. It does not mean I love my country less. But, I know no other life than life in the ANC. The ANC is my life.”
He added: “The historic mission of the oldest liberation movement in the continent has still not been completed. For 103 years the ANC has been engaged in a mission to liberate South Africa first from the yoke of apartheid colonialism, and now from poverty, inequality and unemployment. The ANC continues to pursue the mission of building a united, non-sexist, non-racial, democratic and prosperous South Africa, a National Democratic Society.
“To this day the ANC remains the only viable tool in the hands of our people that can be used to achieve their total emancipation.”
Zuma said the ANC, “our glorious movement”, was continuing its mission of bringing together not only all members of the party but all South Africans and to building a better, more democratic and peaceful Africa.
The movement needed to be focused to lead the country, and to bring economic freedom to its majority and therefore needed resolve, determination and a return to its core values, leaving behind “negative tendencies”.
In this regard, the ANC must rise to the occasion and lead society and the country in general to a better life.
“I reiterate and reaffirm that the ANC comes first. It must come first to all members so that we can together, build an ANC that can and will continue leading this country effectively and ensure that the dividends of peace and freedom are enjoyed by all, especially the poor.
“I shall continue using the ANC as an instrument of making my country a better place to live in for all its people, black and white, men and women, young and old.”
Zuma caused an outcry a week ago when he told the ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal: “… And I argued one time with somebody who said that the country comes first, and I said as much as I understand that, I think my organisation, the ANC, comes first.” - ANA
(File photo: Gallo Images)