The African National Congress reacted sharply on Wednesday to comments made by satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys.
According to a report in the Sowetan on Monday, Uys called President Thabo Mbeki a liar and called for the president’s resignation over his views on the causes of Aids.
Uys said he used to admire Mbeki and that he celebrated when Mbeki was elected to lead the country and the ANC, but has lost faith in the president.
Uys also criticised Mbeki over the president’s recent controversial remarks to a US newspaper that he did not know anyone who had died of Aids.
The Sowetan quoted Uys as saying that Mbeki “lies and so condemns his nation to death” and that it is time to “replace this man with a leader who cares”.
On Thursday the ANC said that it is “rather unfortunate that Pieter-Dirk Uys has chosen to insult the president in the manner he has” and called the comments “unwarranted and baseless”.
The party’s statement said that while freedom of speech is guaranteed by the South African Constitution, citizens should not abuse these rights and “heap insults on the president”.
“It is rather ironic that people like Uys staunchly believe in their freedom to express their views, but do not believe such right should extend to the president.”
Referring to Mbeki’s comment on not knowing anyone who has died of Aids, the ANC said: “It is sheer mischief to repeat this story without putting it in its proper context as explained by the president’s spokesperson.”
The ANC advised Uys to “realise that real life is not satire and the country is not amused by his grandiose posturing and attention-seeking comments that do not add any value whatsoever to nation-building”.
“The ANC believes that the majority of South Africans appreciate the difficult job of the president and his ability to balance domestic needs and placing South Africa among the family of nations that make a meaningful contribution to building a better Africa and a better world.”