Jacob Zuma declared on Tuesday that he accepted and respected President Thabo Mbeki’s decision to sack him, but continued to maintain he was innocent of any wrongdoing.
He also said he would remain deputy president of the African National Congress, and was prepared to stand for the presidency of the movement if called on in future.
”Let me reiterate that my conscience is clear: I have not committed any crime against the State or the people of South Africa,” he told journalists who packed into a media briefing at Tuynhuys less than an hour after Mbeki’s momentous announcement in Parliament.
Zuma, who at times smiled and even laughed at reporters’ questions, said it was Mbeki’s prerogative to take the decision ”in the context and within his authority as the president of the republic.
”I accept and respect his pronouncement. I believe he has taken this decision not because he believes I am guilty of any crime but because of considerations relating to the constraints within which government operates.”
Zuma said he had also offered to quit his seat in Parliament, not as an admission of guilt of any kind, but to make it easier for the ANC and the government to function in Parliament.
Asked whether Mbeki had offered him a chance to resign before he was fired, he said: ”I don’t think I would want to comment on that one, for very good reasons.”
He said he still maintained that he had been treated ”extremely unfairly” in the whole arms deal and Schabir Shaik issues, and that he had been tried and found guilty by the media.
”I have not been given an opportunity in an appropriate forum to defend myself against the allegations made,” he said. ”Yet our Constitution states that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
Pressed for his response to Durban High Court judge Hilary Squires, who found that he had a ”generally corrupt” relationship with Schabir Shaik, who acted as his financial advisor, Zuma said it would be unfair to comment on the matter while it was ”still in the process of being looked at”.
Shaik is seeking leave to appeal.
Said Zuma: ”I do have views, but it’s not the time here to deal with those views.”
He said he trusted that ”those authorised to take decisions” –apparently a reference the National Prosecuting Authority, which is looking anew at his links to Shaik — would act ”within a reasonable period” to bring about a conclusion in the matter.
”I need to be given an opportunity to tell my side of the story, and bring finality to these accusations and speculations,” he said.
”All said and done, I believe that we should put national unity and the interests of our country and nation first — whatever views people may have about the president’s decision and the Durban Court judgement.
”I have dedicated all my life to serving the people of this country, and to working for a better South Africa. I am determined to continue serving my country in whatever capacity and role, and remain ready to make whatever sacrifice necessary for our country.”
He said he wanted to extend his ”deepest and sincere gratitude” to Mbeki ”who gave me an opportunity to be his deputy, and with whom I have shared many years of comradeship and work in the struggle, under very difficult conditions”.
Zuma said there was nothing precluding him from accepting a new deployment by the ANC as ”anything” in the movement, even president.
”Anything the ANC will say, our policy as cadres is to accept.”
He said his role as facilitator in the Burundi peace process was not dependent on his position as deputy president and he would continue in it.
The ”appropriate structures” would deal with his position as head of the Moral Regeneration Movement if they felt a need to do so.
Questioned on his personal plans, he said: ”The good thing, my brother, is I was not born an MP and I was not born a deputy president. I had life before that, and I think I’ll go back to that life.” – Sapa