This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8184957.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Zuma surprises protest residents | Zuma surprises protest residents |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has visited an informal housing settlement in eastern Mpumalanga Province, the scene of recent violent protests. | South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has visited an informal housing settlement in eastern Mpumalanga Province, the scene of recent violent protests. |
| Mr Zuma said his "surprise" visit was aimed at getting a first-hand account of people's grievances. | Mr Zuma said his "surprise" visit was aimed at getting a first-hand account of people's grievances. |
| Residents in the area burnt a library and a municipal vehicle during demonstrations demanding better services like water and housing. | |
| The protests and strikes are seen as the new president's main challenge. | The protests and strikes are seen as the new president's main challenge. |
| Mr Zuma visited Siyathemba township unannounced in a bid to reach out to residents who were angry that there were still without basic services such as clean water and electricity, 15 years after the African National Congress (ANC) came into power. | Mr Zuma visited Siyathemba township unannounced in a bid to reach out to residents who were angry that there were still without basic services such as clean water and electricity, 15 years after the African National Congress (ANC) came into power. |
| There is no place hidden that I am not going to go to... I will see what the problems are and why we haven't been able to deliver services there South African President Jacob Zuma Zuma's challenges as president | There is no place hidden that I am not going to go to... I will see what the problems are and why we haven't been able to deliver services there South African President Jacob Zuma Zuma's challenges as president |
| "I thought it important to come unannounced so I can hear what people have to say," he said speaking to journalists at Siyathemba township. | "I thought it important to come unannounced so I can hear what people have to say," he said speaking to journalists at Siyathemba township. |
| Mr Zuma, who was inaugurated in May, said he would visit all the affected areas. | Mr Zuma, who was inaugurated in May, said he would visit all the affected areas. |
| "There is no place hidden that I am not going to go to... I will see what the problems are and why we haven't been able to deliver services there," said Mr Zuma. | "There is no place hidden that I am not going to go to... I will see what the problems are and why we haven't been able to deliver services there," said Mr Zuma. |
| There has been a spate of similar protests across the country in recent weeks. | There has been a spate of similar protests across the country in recent weeks. |
| Some 200 people have been arrested in demonstrations, which revived memories of the deadly xenophobic attacks on foreigners last year. | Some 200 people have been arrested in demonstrations, which revived memories of the deadly xenophobic attacks on foreigners last year. |
| Mr Zuma again condemned the violent protests and attacks against foreign nationals. | Mr Zuma again condemned the violent protests and attacks against foreign nationals. |
| He has promised to deliver better services, but his ability to increase spending has been hampered since South Africa went into recession in May. | He has promised to deliver better services, but his ability to increase spending has been hampered since South Africa went into recession in May. |