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| Jacob Zuma says response to Lonmin massacre shows democracy is working | Jacob Zuma says response to Lonmin massacre shows democracy is working |
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| South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, who faces an internal leadership contest next week, has claimed that his response to the police massacre of 34 striking mineworkers earlier this year proves that democracy is working. | South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, who faces an internal leadership contest next week, has claimed that his response to the police massacre of 34 striking mineworkers earlier this year proves that democracy is working. |
| In an interview with the Guardian, Zuma defended his decision not to sack his police minister after the August shootings at Marikana, which he described as a wake-up call to an industry in which working conditions "almost border on exploitation". | In an interview with the Guardian, Zuma defended his decision not to sack his police minister after the August shootings at Marikana, which he described as a wake-up call to an industry in which working conditions "almost border on exploitation". |
| The veteran of the struggle against apartheid is the hot favourite to retain his position at an African National Congress (ANC) conference next week, but he learned on Thursday that he will be challenged by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, who ended a long year of speculation by throwing his hat in the ring. | The veteran of the struggle against apartheid is the hot favourite to retain his position at an African National Congress (ANC) conference next week, but he learned on Thursday that he will be challenged by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, who ended a long year of speculation by throwing his hat in the ring. |
| Zuma, meanwhile, was already in Mangaung, the municipality containing the city of Bloemfontein where the conference will be held, to unveil a statue of Nelson Mandela – who continued to receive treatment for a lung infection for a sixth day, his longest spell in hospital for more than a decade. | Zuma, meanwhile, was already in Mangaung, the municipality containing the city of Bloemfontein where the conference will be held, to unveil a statue of Nelson Mandela – who continued to receive treatment for a lung infection for a sixth day, his longest spell in hospital for more than a decade. |
| Speaking previously in Pretoria, Zuma defended his handling of the event that threatens to define his presidency – the worst state-sponsored security crackdown since the end of racial apartheid. | Speaking previously in Pretoria, Zuma defended his handling of the event that threatens to define his presidency – the worst state-sponsored security crackdown since the end of racial apartheid. |
| "Nobody expected Marikana," he said. "But I think you can't fail to appreciate that Marikana happened in a democratic country. If it was during apartheid, there were many Marikanas almost on a daily basis, and there was nothing that anyone could do about it whatever. | "Nobody expected Marikana," he said. "But I think you can't fail to appreciate that Marikana happened in a democratic country. If it was during apartheid, there were many Marikanas almost on a daily basis, and there was nothing that anyone could do about it whatever. |
| "Once this one happened, you saw the reaction of the country. The churches were there, the traditional leaders were there, government was there. We established the ministerial committee immediately to deal with the issue, established a judicial commission of inquiry to make it a point that it does not happen again, but also to say what caused it." | "Once this one happened, you saw the reaction of the country. The churches were there, the traditional leaders were there, government was there. We established the ministerial committee immediately to deal with the issue, established a judicial commission of inquiry to make it a point that it does not happen again, but also to say what caused it." |
| He added: "To me, that is the difference that says: is democracy working? I think it is." | He added: "To me, that is the difference that says: is democracy working? I think it is." |
| Zuma rejected calls for the police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, to quit, saying the unrest was caused by a dispute over wages. "Now you can't say the minister of police is responsible for that, to start the thing. When the workers were striking, they had every other kind of weapon in their hands. In fact long before the shooting, 10 people had died including two policemen, two security policemen. Now all of that is not taken into account. | Zuma rejected calls for the police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, to quit, saying the unrest was caused by a dispute over wages. "Now you can't say the minister of police is responsible for that, to start the thing. When the workers were striking, they had every other kind of weapon in their hands. In fact long before the shooting, 10 people had died including two policemen, two security policemen. Now all of that is not taken into account. |
| "How many other people would have died if, for example, police did not move to disarm these people? Nobody can tell. At a spur of the moment, a mistake happened. Now if such a mistake happened, you throw the minister away, I don't know on what basis, because there are facts that need to be weighed." | "How many other people would have died if, for example, police did not move to disarm these people? Nobody can tell. At a spur of the moment, a mistake happened. Now if such a mistake happened, you throw the minister away, I don't know on what basis, because there are facts that need to be weighed." |
| Zuma acknowledged that the tragedy at the Lonmin platinum mine had shown that the status quo was no longer sustainable in the sector. "The conditions of workers should change. They can't continue to be what they were many decades ago. I would imagine Marikana in a democratic South Africa has been a wake-up call to say: 'let us fix the conditions of the workers and make the conditions to be in keeping with what this industry is producing.' | Zuma acknowledged that the tragedy at the Lonmin platinum mine had shown that the status quo was no longer sustainable in the sector. "The conditions of workers should change. They can't continue to be what they were many decades ago. I would imagine Marikana in a democratic South Africa has been a wake-up call to say: 'let us fix the conditions of the workers and make the conditions to be in keeping with what this industry is producing.' |
| "I think it contributes a lot in terms of the economy. It almost borders on exploitation, as it were, the conditions of employment, the level of the salary, et cetera. I believe this is a moment to transform." | "I think it contributes a lot in terms of the economy. It almost borders on exploitation, as it were, the conditions of employment, the level of the salary, et cetera. I believe this is a moment to transform." |
| Zuma's reputation has been battered by a series of revelations this year, notably a 248m rand (£18m) security upgrade of his private residence. "Government has built things there for its own operations," he said. "It can't be blamed on me. That is my home." | Zuma's reputation has been battered by a series of revelations this year, notably a 248m rand (£18m) security upgrade of his private residence. "Government has built things there for its own operations," he said. "It can't be blamed on me. That is my home." |
| Last week it was revealed that before becoming president he relied on benefactors including Mandela and the convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik for 7m rand to clear his debts. The opposition Democratic Alliance has now asked the South African Revenue Service to investigate whether Zuma and his donors paid the appropriate taxes arising from the funds. | Last week it was revealed that before becoming president he relied on benefactors including Mandela and the convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik for 7m rand to clear his debts. The opposition Democratic Alliance has now asked the South African Revenue Service to investigate whether Zuma and his donors paid the appropriate taxes arising from the funds. |
| "Zuma is the worst leader the ANC has ever had," Justice Malala, a political columnist, wrote last month. "Anyone who says the Marikana massacre was a 'mishap' does not deserve to occupy the highest office in the land. Anyone who tries to rewrite and erase history so spectacularly is lost. So are we." | "Zuma is the worst leader the ANC has ever had," Justice Malala, a political columnist, wrote last month. "Anyone who says the Marikana massacre was a 'mishap' does not deserve to occupy the highest office in the land. Anyone who tries to rewrite and erase history so spectacularly is lost. So are we." |
| Yet the 70-year-old, who has a colourful private life, is widely predicted to beat Motlanthe and remain as Africa's most powerful politician for the next seven years. If he suffers a stunning defeat, however, he insists he is ready to accept it. "I will remain in the ANC, I'll work in the ANC. | Yet the 70-year-old, who has a colourful private life, is widely predicted to beat Motlanthe and remain as Africa's most powerful politician for the next seven years. If he suffers a stunning defeat, however, he insists he is ready to accept it. "I will remain in the ANC, I'll work in the ANC. |
| "It has happened in the ANC since 1912, there has been contestation. At the birth of the ANC there were three presidential candidates. That has been there all the time. That's why I'm saying it's an exaggeration that makes people think that whoever loses then has no future. It's not true. The ANC is always there." | "It has happened in the ANC since 1912, there has been contestation. At the birth of the ANC there were three presidential candidates. That has been there all the time. That's why I'm saying it's an exaggeration that makes people think that whoever loses then has no future. It's not true. The ANC is always there." |
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