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President Jacob Zuma. Picture: Ziphozonke Lushaba
President Jacob Zuma's office refuses to confirm or deny reports about what he said to embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as reported by the BBC.
On Wednesday, BBC Monitoring, the media monitoring service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), reported that Libyan TV had highlighted what it said were remarks made by Zuma to Gaddafi in a telephone conversation.
Libyan TV quoted Zuma as calling on the African Union (AU) to “take decisive action and uncover the conspiracy that Libyan (sic) is facing”.
The Libyan TV report also quoted Zuma as “stressing the need not to depend on tendentious reports circulated by foreign media outlets and the need to listen to the Libyan media in this regard”.
Zuma is attending the AU Security Council meeting in Ethiopia.
His office issued a statement late on Wednesday saying that it “would not be drawn into rumours and distortions of the conversation with the leader of Libya, Col Muammar Gaddafi, who had called to explain his side of the story”.
The presidency also said that Zuma had spoken out “clearly” on the Libyan issue, openly condemning the loss of life, attacks on civilians and reported violations of human rights in Libya.
“The country supports the positions taken by the AU and the United Nations (UN) on Libya and there has never been any ambiguity about the position of either Zuma or the country,” the presidency said.
In reaction to the media reports, Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said: “The president's close relationship in the past with Col Gaddafi has long been a cause of concern. We must recall that, just 12 days after being arrested on charges of rape in 2006, Jacob Zuma undertook a five-day trip to Tripoli, where he met with Col Gaddafi.”
Trollip said that numerous media reports had suggested that he (Gaddafi) provided Zuma with financial support to contest the allegations against him.
“In light of this, there is a particularly urgent need for clarity, and for the president to disassociate himself with the contents of these reports,” Trollip said. - I-Net Bridge
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Tibla, wrote
For statr, Gordon AU, i think your comment is misplaced by your lack of clarity of who you are, ex south african, what the hell is that, now for the real issues, we caanot continue to run away from the fact that our country is compromised by our own president. in this regard, whatever is being said right or wrong suits our president, but insulting him as an uneducated man just does not help any of you, but as Gordaon Au says, i am an ex S African, maybe the reality is that we have lost our identity in the process our pride in the country we so love, largely because of our president who operates from a compromised position but also our thie beautiful country is plunged because of some fool making wrong decisions some 50 yrs ago.
joe, wrote
You've got to understand, Zuma is an uneducated idiot with nothing of substance to offer anyone so the only way for him to survive is to appease the rif raf of the world.
Gordon -Au, wrote
I am an ex South African- and have to agree with the comments read- its a shame to see such a beautiful country like SA just go down hill.The feeling one has when one is on a holiday back to SA- is something nobody can imagine, but be there for a minimum of a week and you wanna get out and go back to the place we now call home (abroad)- very sad indeed!!
TheJurg, wrote
Surprise Surprise - Could this have been the 'MI CASA ES SU CASA' call??? If it was then pity us all and no more so than the people that voted and still vote ANC because all of you have nothing and will have nothing as long as it gets taken by the leaders of your choice. How much longer will it take the nation to see what the blind can see or hear what the deaf can hear. Wake-up SA since 1994 you are being ruled - when will you start ruling or will you all remain being doormats??? If you allow your leaders to continue I am afraid that there will come the day you will no longer be able to bear it and what you see happening in the North you will be partaking in here in the South sooner than what you are aware of.
Craig Fowler, wrote
Let us not forget that comrade Mandela once bestowed upon Gaddafi South Africa's highest State Order. They are essentially (don't excuse the pun) two peas in the same pod.
Peeved, wrote
All the despots will go in a row. First Ali, then Mubarak, now Ghaddafi will face the wrath of his people. The list is becoming more clearer by the day and Zuma's day has already been penned on this list. Not long anymore....this is a wave which is going to be very difficult to stop....all the despots in Africa and Middle East will be targeted one by one....Zuma has to look over his shoulder every minute of the day now..
Anonymous, wrote
All these previous comments were written by people with racist tendencies.This is just a rumour, what happened to presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
missy, wrote
Whats news, anything which is moral, does not conform to this ANC, as time goes on i truly appreciating Nelson Mandelas motto, i truly believe (which wasnt always so) that he honestly tried his best for all here, whether im right or wrong, he still had morals, wasnt corrupt & wasnt into rape etc nor bribes
Siyincaba, wrote
As a matter of fact The Anc has been helped by Gaddafi in the past durin the apartheid period and getting ANC trained educationally and military. These happened at the time when the people of South Africa needed help same as how Gaddafi were seen conducting business with the world US and others. South Africa has got its own issues internally and its got nothing to do with what is happening in Libya. As a matter of fact South Africa might have few issues to deal with internally and yet solved bit by bit. South Africa is not like Libya becuase South Africa is fully democratic and matters solved a bit different than Libya. Yes LIbya did business with the ANC in helping the ANC financially when they had no suport from anybody in terms of educating the ANC members to work its way were they are today. Its sad that the majority libyan people are against its leader and hope they overcome this and turn into democracy just like where SOuth Africa under the ANC is heading too.
Sam van den Berg, wrote
mike, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Gaddafi is an ANC and Jacob Zuma funder, it will be difficult for Zuma to turn his back on him.
Anonymous, wrote
Nothing is a secret, especially not the close friendship between the ANC and every other dictator in the African Union. Zuma's visit to Ivory Coast achieved nothing, the rape and pillage in the Congo continues unabated, Sudan and Somalia are up to their necks in it and this useless bunch of well paid Africans continue to drive around in German cars, fly around in European and American jets, doing what they do best. Nothing, zilch, zero, other than lining their designer pockets with stolen wealth.
John, wrote
We got our problems hear at home we to worried about power and who rules now to many coloured people in the cape sort out the needs of the people and stop worrying about pity party rubish
Loudly South African, wrote
What mystery? "There isn't an anti-west despot the ANC doesn't like" - Gaddafi fits the bill as closely as Mugabe. Gaddafi has given millions to the ANC and to President 783 personally. Of course they support him.
Showahed, wrote
What do you expect from a bunch of fools with the same ideology? Bufoonland is heading down the same communistic route...so much for deomocracy.
Bill, wrote
Gaddafi; Zuma; Mugabe. Big, big gabbas. Expect SA to play host to another terrorist keader.
Anonymous, wrote
nothing would surprise me we have always supported rogue states why change now Z doesn't want the World to make a paralel with Zim. That is obvious
mike358, wrote
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