What on earth could Simon Jenkins have been thinking? The Guardian writer this week landed the respected paper in hot water after he wrote a op-ed in which he quoted an unnamed “friend” as suggesting that Jacob Zuma was a “criminal and a rapist”.
Zuma immediately sued for defamation and demanded an apology.
Zuma’s London law firm, Schillings Laywers, said: “Mr Zuma believes that the published column contains grossly defamatory, false and indefensible allegations, the most serious of which is the false claim that he is a rapist.”
It quoted Zuma as saying: “The media should report accurately and honestly. It is not fair that they should print lies, distort or exaggerate issues merely for the sake of sensationalism and increased revenue.
The article has since been removed from the website.
Jenkins then goes on to say that under Zuma’s sway “the once formidable South African army is in disarray”.
“Power generation is collapsing. How South Africa will host the Soccer World Cup next year remains moot. The pledge of ‘No shacks by 2010’ is mocked by the shanty towns growing to the perimeter of Cape Town airport.”
The latest Ipsos Markinor poll, released this week, said Zuma’s legal woes have not affected his party and that only the controversial behaviour of the ANC Youth League and its president, Julius Malema, have cost it support.
One-third of voters polled said they would vote for an opposition party because of Malema, while 10% said they would not vote at all because of him. More than 50% of those polled said Zuma’s legal troubles will “make them more likely to vote for the ANC”.
| FULL SPEED AHEAD |
NOT SO FAST |
The United States
US envoy George Mitchell has pressed the two-state solution in meetings with senior officials in Israel. The US believes this is “the best and the only way” that we’ll see in the Middle East. It’s a start. |
 The Guardian
A Guardian writer this week landed the paper in hot water after he quoted an unnamed “friend” as suggesting that Jacob Zuma was a “criminal and a rapist”. The article has since been removed from the paper’s website. |
Most-read stories
April 9 to 15 2009
1. The spy who saved Zuma
A top spy once closely linked to former president Thabo Mbeki saved ANC president Jacob Zuma’s political life.
2. The Nkandla Mafia is coming
A Zuma supporter who was outside the country this week asked me what was happening when I phoned him on Tuesday.
3. What Mpshe should have said
“I stand here today to announce the most difficult decision I ever made. What I am about to put before you is evidence of conduct that has serious implications for the integrity and independence of the NPA.
4. How Zuma became Mbeki
Watching the dramatic events that set Jacob Zuma free this week, I could not help but feel we had come full circle, and that we were witnessing an action replay of the unsavoury event which started the whole thing: Bulelani Ngcuka’s notorious 2003 announcement that although there was a “prima facie case of corruption” against Zuma, he would not be charged because the case was “unwinnable”.
5. SABC pulls Special Assignment doccie on Zuma, Zapiro
A week and a day ahead of the April 22 elections, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has cancelled an episode of its Special Assignment programme dealing with satire and cartoon strips.
6. ‘The NPA is very upset about it’
Jacob Zuma’s prosecutor, Billy Downer, is not a happy man. But he won’t be quitting any time soon, he tells Adriaan Basson
7. Zuma sues London’s Guardian
African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma is suing the Guardian for defamation over an article published last month that described his leadership style as “morally contaminated”.
8. Sergeant at the Bar: McCarthy the fall guy
It took a long time but eventually the political might of the ANC wore down the National Prosecuting Authority, whose professional prosecutors had tenaciously sought to bring Jacob Zuma to trial.
9. Love in the time of Cope
My family’s ritual Sunday lunch at home has not been the same since the birth of the ANC’s half sister Congress of the People (Cope).
10. Phosa: ANC has made serious mistakes
The African National Congress (ANC) has made serious mistakes on public service deployment, black economic empowerment and land reform that must be corrected after the elections, ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa said on Wednesday.