Zuma: Solve problems the African way

2012-11-02 12:18

Jacob Zuma (Picture: AFP)

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma has told traditional leaders that Africans have their own way of solving their problems through traditional institutions, it was reported on Friday.

"Let us solve African problems the African way, not the white man's way," Zuma was quoted saying at the opening of National House of Traditional Leaders in Parliament on Thursday, The Times reported.

"Let us not be influenced by other cultures and try to think the lawyers are going to help us. We have never changed facts.

"They tell you they are going to change facts. They will never tell you that these cold facts have warm bodies," he said.

The newspaper reported that Zuma's comments could be viewed as an endorsement of the traditional courts bill, which is currently under consideration in Parliament.

The bill was first submitted in 2008, it empowers chiefs to act as judge, prosecutor and mediator, with no legal representation and no appeals allowed.

The Times reported that the bill will affect about 19 million rural people who live on tribal lands ruled by chiefs.

- SAPA