President Jacob Zuma apologizes to the nation

2010-02-06 15:57

I have over the past week taken time to consider and reflect on the issues relating to a relationship I had outside of wedlock.

The matter, though private, has been a subject of much public discussion and debate. It has put a lot of pressure on my family and my organisation, the African National Congress.  I also acknowledge and understand the reaction of many South Africans.

I deeply regret the pain that I have caused to my family, the ANC, the Alliance and South Africans in general.

I reiterate that I took responsibility for my actions towards the family concerned and the child.

I reaffirm my commitment and that of my movement to the importance of the family as an institution. I also reaffirm my commitment and that of my movement to the values of personal responsibility, respect and dignity.

I recognise the responsibility of leaders to uphold and promote these values at all times.

Comment on this story


Ninu 2/6/2010 4:27:01 PM
Too little too late. He has made South Africa a laughing stock internationally.
Makerese 2/6/2010 6:03:07 PM
Mr. President: Our country's image has been severely tarnished because of your miscalculative acts. I am afraid that a lot of things are at stake here, and I will ask you today to be brave enough and step down. If you truely love this country, this is where you have to make a genuine recorrections. And please make sure that you also make apology to the Zulu nation. Thank you very much, and God bless the RSA
T. Madawu 2/6/2010 6:52:22 PM
If the ANC is to continue to be regarded as a serious political institution, the world would not be as surprised, if they recall Zuma as they recalled Thabo Mbeki! This is a disgrace to the nation and Africa as a whole. No amount of apologies will do any good to the damage that this man continues to inflict on South Africa!
LL PONN 2/6/2010 11:21:21 PM
Well done Mr President, I shall vote for you again during the next election.
thandi 2/6/2010 11:48:11 PM
He needs to do a noble thing to resign. He is an embarrassment to the nation. We who are not in South Africa feel we cannot protect him any longer. I feel sorry for those who voted for him.
PHINEAS MALAKA 2/7/2010 6:55:06 AM
JZ possess no good character and should have known better through his twelve men team of spin doctors
Choene 2/7/2010 9:05:28 AM
It is pointless to apologise now. He did it knowingly! He is a public figure and where does moral regeneration fit into this? How many times do you plan to apologise?
RINGANE WALTER 2/8/2010 8:53:13 AM
We have heard enough! Father of the nation...
Hlubi 2/8/2010 1:13:30 PM
This is the perfect time for me to show my loyalty to JZ. All those who support him end up having good positions in government. He messes up and more people get promotions for supporting him. I am no Zulu but remember me president. By the way what do we call a person who makes the same mistake time and time again... a moron.
Siya 2/10/2010 9:40:30 AM
It is clear that the ANC president displays patriachial tendences that are hidden under the banner of culture even though as a person who is holding the highest office in the land (which in its policies preaches women equality), in my view this is more lip service. He uses this policy to exploit women and subject them into sex objects. If the people that hold public office do not practice what they preach how can they convince the general public about issues of moral regeneration, gender equality etc? The act displayed by our president is just the tip of iceberg which is just an indication of how our communities are. It is good that this came to the public domain so that the whole world should know that we as South African leaders who uphold public office do not have high moral fibre.
Smotho 2/10/2010 12:35:34 PM
Mr Zuma, I appreciate the fact that you're not hiding your issues in the closet and you take responsibility of your action unlike some of our leaders and brothers who pretend to have clean linen in their closets. As a citizen of South Africa, I accept your apology just for the fact that you humble yourself and uttered those words. We hope that some of our brothers and sisters would learn to put their political and personal feelings about a person and appreciate him for what he is. Please brothers and sisters, consider Mr President's peformance and the changes he is bringing to the country at large. Most of all, remember he is also human like everbody else, if we can turn around and look at ourselves, we will find that we all have downfalls in life and imagine how you will feel when you're down there and somebody shuts you down. Please people, the apology is more than anything and it definitely needs our consideration as South Africans. I personally accept your apology Mr President.
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