Zuma supporters 'unprincipled'

2007-01-31 22:25

Johannesburg - Supporters of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma have hit back at South African Communist Party's Jeremy Cronin for saying they were unprincipled and inconsistent.

"Cronin is one of the people who have consciously continued to lie about Zuma and his supporters since the (Zuma's) rape trial," the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust said on Wednesday.

In a statement the trust said it was more concerned that, despite its protests and refuting, Cronin had joined the bandwagon in "accusing us of being criminals, thugs and illiterates".

Cronin, the SACP's deputy general-secretary, reportedly attacked Zuma's supporters, saying they were unprincipled and inconsistent.

'Provide public with evidence'

He said they upheld the courts' rulings when it suited them and attacked when it did not. Cronin was addressing a Joe Slovo memorial lecture in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Monday.

"We call on Cronin and others in the anti-Zuma camp to provide the public with evidence or refrain from making silly and misinformed utterances aimed at pleasing a particular section of our society.

"The media has also failed to bring the evidence forward, but it continues to accuse Zuma's supporters of acts of criminality and violence."

Zuma supporters said they would not be intimidated by Cronin from their "principled" stand.

"Our understanding is communists should defend the powerless and wrongly prosecuted.

"Therefore, we are disappointment at the 21st century communists, who are so hungry for news headlines at the expense of the truth and justice."

The supporters urged the public not to be "misled by mischievous individuals who have a holier-than-thou attitude and no facts".

- SAPA