Zuma trust hits back at Pityana

The Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust has lambasted former University of South Africa principal Barney Pityana over remarks he made about Zuma’s supporters, dismissing his comments as “reckless and lies”.

During an address at King College in London recently, Pityana is said to have told his audience that Zuma supporters are mainly criminals.

“The Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust ... is seriously concerned over the reckless utterances and lies made by Barney Pityana,” the trust said in a statement on Monday.

It accused Pityana of being unpatriotic.

“To argue that most of us are criminals is equal to saying that the African National Congress [ANC], its alliance partners and the entire democratic movement are criminals and in conflict with the law.

“Who is Pityana saying is in conflict with the law? Perhaps, in his usual opportunistic manner, Pityana wanted to please his audience at the expense of our movement and country,” said the trust.

Alongside the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the Young Communist League, the trust is one of Zuma’s staunchest supporters.

Other prominent people who were recently under attack from Zuma supporters for saying negative things about the embattled former deputy president and his followers include Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto.

Last week the ANCYL in Limpopo criticised him for saying Zuma’s court battles were his own personal problems and not of national interest.—Sapa