Only the ANC fought for freedom: Zuma

President Zuma addressed residents at Thokoza Park in Soweto. Photo: Twitter

President Zuma addressed residents at Thokoza Park in Soweto. Photo: Twitter

Published Jul 29, 2016

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Port Elizabeth - No other political party members except those from the ANC went to jail for more than 20 years to bring democracy to South Africa, President Jacob Zuma told thousands of his supporters during a municipal elections campaign in Soweto.

Zuma, who was addressing residents at Thokoza Park on Friday, rattled off a list of ANC leaders who were jailed for life, including Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni and Denis Goldberg.

He also told the jubilant crowd that it was ANC members who were sentenced to death under the apartheid government.

“It was 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 only vote for the ANC and no other party as well as independent candidates contesting the August 3 municipal elections.

In his view, it was only ANC members who had fought for freedom in the country including pledging to die in jail.

Speaking in isiZulu, he said: “ANC members pledged: ‘I will die for our people. There is no other party that did that. These are the reasons why you have to vote for the ANC. We fought for freedom. Whether they like it or not. The ANC will rule until Jesus comes. When he comes, he will still find the ANC in power.”

Zuma’s claims are, however, contradicted by historical archives including those in possession of the Justice and Correctional Services Department.

According to documents, PAC founding member Jeff Masemola was the first person under apartheid to be sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island in 1963.

IMasemola along with the now retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke and 13 others were charged with conspiracy to commit sabotage.

Moseneke then aged 14 was sentenced to 10 years while Masemola, his former teacher, served 26 years in jail on Robben Island. He was released in October 1989 but died six months later in a mysterious car crash.

According to archives, PAC members were also the first to be sentenced to death for their roles in the Poqo Uprisings in 1960.

Despite these historical facts, Zuma was adamant that his party only fought for freedom in South Africa.

“Do not vote for stooges,” he said referring to DA leader Mmusi Maimane, whose party was also in Soweto on Thursday ahead of its “We can win Rally” at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.

“Mmusi Maimane 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,” Zuma asked.

He said Maimane and his fellow black members were “confused and do not know whether they were black or white.”

During his address, Zuma read out newspapers reports from 2000 in which Mandela was quoted condemning the coalition between the National Party and Democratic Party which led to the formation of DA.

In the reports, Mandela accuses coalition parties of not having the interests of black people at heart, but only caring about their votes.

“This is proof that the DA was born in a marriage between the Progressive Party (sic) and the National. They were a couple and due to this relationship – a child was born called the DA – which is led by Maimane.

“A big snake the National Party gave birth to a small snake the DA. The small snake is also dangerous because it has poison,” Zuma said.

He also took a swipe UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, EFF leader Julius Malema and Cope Mosiuoa Lekota for forming their own parties.

Zuma described Malema as ill-disciplined. On Lekota he said: “Sometime I ask myself how did we elect this man (Lekota) to be the national chairman of the ANC. These people only want to be voted for to be known as Honourable Members of Parliament.

“If you vote for the ANC – it is a national vote. You vote for the nation. At times when I look at Lekota in parliament, he does not appear to be normal. We were hiding certain dodgy characters within the ANC.”

He also appealed to his members not to vote for any independent candidates saying: “The Gods (ancestors) will turn against. You will call bad luck for yourself.”

Election Bureau

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