SOUTH AFRICA: Former deputy President Jacob Zuma attacks media at ANC celebration

Record ID: 452666

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Former deputy President Jacob Zuma attacks media at ANC celebration
  • Date: 20th August 2007
  • Summary: SUPPORTERS DANCING
  • Embargoed: 4th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Communications,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA8CGHL2AVIEQ6MZ60GVF02FVW
  • Story Text: The former deputy president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, says the media sensationalises the problems of the African National Congress.
    The former deputy president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, said on Sunday (August 19) the media's objective was to sensationalise the problems of the ANC (African National Congress).
    His comments came at the 20th anniversary celebration of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO) in Khayalitsha near Cape Town.
    Zuma told the crowd that despite having made wrong predictions about the ANC in the past, the media had failed to acknowledge its mistakes.
    "Thirteen years into democracy, the media is writing a lot about the battle for succession as another challenge. Thirteen years into democracy some people begin to say, do we still need this ANC or will we change it?," he said.
    He said ANC members should not be misled into believing that the media would assist in finding solutions for the many challenges facing the organisation.
    "No matter how the media writes, will never correct the ills that face the African National Congress. It's not their business. Their business is to sensationalise, sell their newspapers, make more money, make more profit about us," he said.
    Jacob Zuma was the deputy president of South Africa, before corruption allegations forced his dismissal in 2005. Despite the claims, he is still popular among voters. He has retained the deputy presidency of the ANC and is seen by many as a likely candidate for South African president when Thabo Mbeki's term comes to an end.
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