Cope like Jesus's donkey - Zuma

Carien du Plessis, Beeld


Polokwane - Those who have broken away from the ANC are like the donkey on which, according to the Bible, Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

Jacob Zuma, leader of the ANC, used this metaphor on Thursday when he addressed hundreds of Cosatu workers in a packed hall in Polokwane as part of his early election campaign in Limpopo.

He said there was a story in the Bible about a "lucky donkey" on whose back Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

"The people were waiting for the Son of Man who was on the donkey. The donkey did not understand it, and thought the songs of praise were for him," he said.

According to Zuma, the donkey later tried to return to Jerusalem on its own in order to once again experience that moment of glory, but the people chased it away.

In the same way the Congress of the People (Cope) leaders will find they are nothing without the ANC, Zuma said.

Snakeskin

He said the ANC should not only fight for a two-thirds majority, but for a "three-thirds majority".

This will enable the ANC to implement its policies more easily, Zuma said.

Zuma also compared Cope's leaders to snakeskin that remained behind after the winter, while the snake - the ANC - sailed away in its new skin.

The old skin may look like the snake, but it isn't the snake, Zuma said.

However, he added that the ANC should allow the dissidents back in should they change their minds and come knocking at the ANC's door again.

Cope claimed it wanted to protect the Constitution when, in fact, they wanted to amend it in order to change the electoral system, Zuma added.

US electoral system

He said Cope were asking for a direct presidential election, as in the US.

Zuma said Cope leaders were airing their problems in the media. They wanted to involve the whole of South Africa in the process and let the people make decisions about the president.

"The American system is different, because it is based on individualism. One man tells the people he is the best leader and we don't know if we can believe him or not."

Zuma said the Americans gave President George W Bush a mandate to govern them, "and you know what happened in the Middle East".

"Our democracy is based on collectivism. We know this person, what this person can do. It's not about an individual who says he thinks he knows himself and can do everything for you."

- Beeld