Jacob Zuma is the focus of several discussion groups on Facebook
The debate surrounding African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma has made its way on to the internet, with several pro- and anti-Zuma groups having popped up on online social network Facebook.
One of the largest, with 52Â 021 members, is entitled ”Help us stop Jacob Zuma from becoming South Africa’s next president”. It is unknown who started the group or if rival politicians had anything to do with it.
Other Zuma-related groups on Facebook include one entitled: ”Dude, I’d rather vote for [US President George] Bush than Zuma!” with 69 members; ”Jacob Zuma: Our next president” with seven members; ”Jacob Zuma — Innocent until proven guilty” with 14 members; and ”I don’t necessarily like Jacob Zuma but put [his trademark song] Umshini Wami on the charts!” with 27 members.
There is also the ”Jacob Zuma appreciation society”, which has 81 members.
The person who initiated the ”Help us stop Jacob Zuma” group wrote in his online space: ”I have started this group in the hope that all South Africans join together to save our country from the possibility of Jacob Zuma becoming the next president. I strongly believe that should Zuma take control, that South Africa would end its prosperous growth. You have the choice.”
The Facebook group states that it also has an official Zuma group ringtone, and says it only allows intelligent debate.
”We encourage mature discussions on whether or not you support this cause. Hate speech not only undermines the credibility of this group, but portrays Zuma as a media victim! This does nothing but backfire against the very cause that this group is striving for,” it reads.
Guidelines
The group says it will not tolerate racist comments, death threats, personal attacks on members of the group, any form of hate speech, foul language and adverts. The group has also posted pictures of Zuma. Superimposed over his main profile picture is a red circle with a red bar struck through it.
The group’s discussion board also allows for news of other political parties and whether one should vote for them.
One comment, posted by Njabulo Skhosana, reads: ”Zuma doesn’t have an economic point of view, when he’s abroad or talking to business leaders he assures them economic policy will not change … but when talking to the poor he promises better distribution of wealth … he is a political chameleon.
”The only way we’ll find out is if he does become president … I think we need a leader who is a good role model … The only thing I don’t agree with is people claiming he is a criminal, saying that is slanderous and unfair … he lacks morality but isn’t a criminal, like millions of other people out there.”
Minimal effect
Political analyst Dr Siphamandla Zondi said he believes the group will have minimal effect on the ANC’s performance in the 2009 elections.
”Anything done electronically has its own limitations, but the internet only covers a small portion of the voting population. The impact of campaigning by internet is very limited,” he said. ”These campaigns or groups would have a greater impact if they targeted poorer people through different channels. Targeting poorer people would then swing change.”
He said those with internet access are generally part of the middle class, which is ”a very small population”.
On some of the derogatory names used by anti-Zuma groups on Facebook, Zondi said resorting to name-calling is the norm in the run-up to any election. However, he believes the ”Stop Jacob Zuma” group was not started by another political party.
”A number of these sites are started by groups with their own agendas. I think in this case it was started by people who are genuinely concerned about the country and where it is headed … I think these people are truly concerned.
”What is positive, is that these social networks generate a lot of interest in politics and in the electoral process in the middle class. We might see a better turnout in the election next year as a result of these social networks,” he said. — Sapa