100% homegrown wisdom from members of the African National Congress, and their fellow ideological travelers. And yes, they all true. Editor: @GvanOnselen
“HANDS OF ZUMA” T-shirts worn by pro-Jacob Zuma supporters, 6 July 2021 [The first batch of t-shirts were misprinted, and should have read, “Hands off Zuma”. Picture via @TheCitizen_News]
"You cannot burn the symbol of the president of the ANC. You cannot also throw insults to the president. It is unacceptable and we condemn that." Jacob Zuma, 19 October 2005 [On protestors who burnt ANC t-shirts carrying the face of Thabo Mbeki]
“The ANC is like a cat. If you throw it from many storeys up, it will always land on its feet. We are like that. We've got many lives. We don't only have nine lives. We have many lives and will always land on our feet because we are the ANC.” Cyril Ramaphosa, 24 November 2020
“I will never leave the ANC. I will die in the ANC, but I will never support an ANC that is corrupt. I am not part of that shit. If Nkosazana doesn’t win [against Cyril Ramaphosa], I am out.” Mzwandile Masina, 31 October 2017
“People can differ with me and you can insult me as you like, but disrespect, that is not acceptable… We are being undermined by whites." Blade Nzimande, 15 November 2012 [Justifying his proposal of a law, to make it illegal to insult the president - then Jacob Zuma]
“Viva JZ!” Kgalema Motlanthe, 17 December 2007 [After ANC President Mbeki’s opening speech at the Polokwane conference, sending Zuma supporters “into a frenzy of songs and dancing”.]
“You cannot run a country by using friends around you ... I wish in the not-too-distant future we can be in a position to deal with these matters head-on ... It [patronage] is corruption." Jacob Zuma, 25 November 2007
“It marked the beginning of renewal and rectification in the party. It was about rescuing the ANC.” Gwede Mantashe, 27 August 2009 [On Jacob Zuma’s election as ANC president, at Polokwane, in December 2007]