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Zim gays condemn Zuma
28/09/2006 19:36 - (SA)
Cape Town - As ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma apologised on Thursday to the South African gay and lesbian community over his remarks made at recent Heritage Day celebrations, a Zimbabwean organisation expressed its disgust at his statements.
Mike Goddard, director of gays and lesbians of Zimbabwe (Galz), said: "Such utterances may be run of the mill for the likes of national leaders, such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, but are startling when they emanate from a South African statesman.
"Those of us living under difficult circumstances, as exist in Zimbabwe and elsewhere on this continent, have become increasingly alarmed by the wild behaviour and utterances of Zuma which continue to go unchecked."
Speaking during the ceremonies on Sunday he said: "When I was growing up an ungqingili (a gay) would not have stood in front of me. I would knock him out."
Angered gay and lesbian community
However, in his statement released on Thursday, Zuma said he had noted his remarks at the Shaka Day commemoration in kwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday had been interpreted in various ways, and might have hurt and angered the gay and lesbian community.
The remarks were made in the context of the traditional way of raising children, he said.
However, in his statement he said he had commented in particular about the manner in which communities tended to neglect boys and over-emphasise the traditional upbringing of girls, as evidenced in ceremonies such as the reed dance.
"I said the communal upbringing of children in the past was able to assist parents to notice children with a different social orientation.
Nobody should be discriminated against
"I however did not intend to have this interpreted as a condemnation of gays and lesbians."
The Constitution clearly stated that nobody should be discriminated against on any grounds, including sexual orientation, and he upheld and abided by the Constitution, said Zuma.
"Our lesbian and gay compatriots are protected by the Constitution and I respect their rights, in my capacity as an individual citizen and as a member and one of the leaders of the ANC.
"I also respect, acknowledge and applaud the sterling contribution of many gay and lesbian compatriots in the struggle that brought about our freedom, and the role they continue to play in the building of a successful non-racial, non-discriminatory SA.
"I apologise unreservedly for the pain and anger that my remarks may have caused," said Zuma.
Fundamental rights of people
However, Zuma's comments, on Heritage Day have also drawn the wrath of the gay community in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
The Joint Working Group (JWG) said on Tuesday that while Zuma was entitled to his personal opinion, his public statement at KwaDukuza during Heritage Day celebrations "was a form of hate speech".
The JWG accused Zuma of "blatant ignorance of the fundamental rights of people as enshrined in our SA Constitution and a total disrespect of it".
The JWG describes itself as an alliance of registered non-profit organisations, providing services to the gay community.
- SAPA
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