Durban – Previous presidents would theorise about HIV/Aids and development, but President Jacob Zuma came up with solid programmes to take South Africa forward.
So said ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairman Sihle Zikalala on Sunday.
He praised Zuma when they both attended the commemoration of Zuma’s nephew as the inkosi of the Nxamalalo tribal community in Impendle.
Zuma did not say anything about politics, but advised young people against social ills.
Said Zikalala: “There were presidents before, and all of them would say we have programmes but under President Jacob Zuma we have seen programmes of development in the whole of South Africa.”
Previous presidents under democracy were Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe. Although Zikalala did not mention them by name, he directly attacked Mbeki for denying that HIV causes Aids, instead of releasing ARVs.
“We would be asked if HIV does cause Aids, but President Zuma said whether that was the case or not, people needed to live.
“President Zuma said we should give people ARVs.”
Zikalala reiterated what Zuma said last week when praising himself for going against other ANC leaders to restore peace. Zuma had told ANC members in the Durban City Hall that he spoke about peace between the IFP and ANC when the late struggle stalwart Harry Gwala was against it, and when it was not fashionable within the ANC.
University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhale Ndlovu said South Africans should not take credit from Zuma for taking the country forward, but that Mandela was the first person to talk about peace.