You can’t make this stuff up. Barely a month ago, South Africa was shocked by news the immigrant Gupta family had essentially sidelined the ANC’s appointed President on key cabinet appointments. That the crony capitalists from India were the ones who decided who filled economically-important positions, even conducting the conditions-attached instructions while the President sat next door. Then we had the same President lashed by the highest court in the land whose judgement set out very clearly how he had broken his oath of office when trying to avoid paying for taxpayer-funded improvements to his home. On top of this comes the global Panama Papers expose’ where the same President’s nephew is one of a couple dozen of the highest profile miscreants – confirming he had received massive oil-bearing blocks in the DRC, by Presidential Decree, shortly after uncle agreed to send 400 South African soldiers to protect who knows what in that turbulent country. Yesterday the man at the centre of all this scandal basked in the adoration of thousands of supporters wearing t-shirts with his smiling face. And tells them, with a straight face, that when the people want a leader to go, he should leave. Earth to Zuma: which planet are you on? – Alec Hogg
By Karabo Ngoepe, News24
Giyani – President Jacob Zuma says leaders should humble themselves when the people no longer want them to be in charge.
“What is important is that we should humble ourselves. If you were elected at one point and people no longer want you, humble yourself,” Zuma told thousands of people gathered at the Giyani Stadium in Limpopo for Freedom Day celebrations on Wednesday.
“Accept it so that change will come if people believe we need change now.”
Zuma told the crowd that it was, however, important to follow proper procedures in ensuring the removal of the said leader.
He did not give context as to what he was referring to but went on to say democratic institutions had to be respected at all times.
“But they can’t take shortcuts. We must exercise the democratic institutions so that we can have a peaceful democratic state wherein the will of the majority prevails.”
Read also: ANC heavyweight: I will love and respect Zuma even more when he steps down
He emphasised the importance of democracy and voting during elections.
Zuma appealed to South Africans to go out and vote in the upcoming local government elections. He said democratic states regularly held elections to allow the people to elect those whom they wanted to be leaders.
He said recent indications were that people believe in the country’s democracy and the recent huge turnout for voter registration weekends was testament to that.
“Our citizens’ faith in our Constitution [and] democracy has never been stronger. We have deepening our understanding of democracy with time. Local government is everybody’s business because it is where the majority of us live.
“That is where we feel government. That is why those who have been elected should be clear that they are there for the people and not for themselves,” said Zuma.
Read also: Party factions grow – Gauteng ANC tell Zuma “do the right thing”
The president was well received in Limpopo where thousands showed up to demonstrate their admiration for him, with the majority of those in attendance wearing t-shirts bearing his face.
While delivering his speech there were pockets in the crowd chanting “preach my president,” and “we love you”.
He concluded his day by walking around the stadium with deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa waving at the crowd.
This was met with loud cheers and screams from excited supporters. – News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/humble-yourself-when-people-dont-want-you-zuma-20160427
