Sadtu: Zuma has our support

2007-12-04 21:02

Johannesburg - The SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) on Tuesday distanced itself from disparaging statements reportedly made by its president Willie Madisha against ANC presidential candidate Jacob Zuma.

"Sadtu distances itself from views attributed to Cosatu and Sadtu President Willie Madisha, in media reports today (Tuesday), which have been construed as yet another scathing attack on the deputy president of the ANC," the union said in a statement.

Madisha is said to have made statements at Sadtu's Monday gathering in Limpopo that were interpreted as an attack on Zuma.

The union which is an affiliate of the Congress of SA Trade Union (Cosatu), was fully behind Zuma .

"The Union has consistently supported the right of Comrade Zuma to a fair trial and rejected the use of state institutions to settle political differences.

"We accept the outcome of the legal process last year which cleared him of rape charges," Sadtu said.

Given Sadtu's overwhelming support for Zuma, there was no way the union could have endorsed any statement meant to denigrate Zuma.

"In the light of the above, there is no way that the comments attributed to the Sadtu president could represent the position of the Union".

However, Madisha said he was quoted out of context.

"These remarks were taken completely out of context. I was making a general point about the continuing scourge of rape and abuse, " he said in a statement.

There had never been any intention to attack the ANC presidential candidate, he said.

"The name of Jacob Zuma was not mentioned and no attack on the deputy president of the ANC was contemplated," Madisha said.

- SAPA