'SA can do better than Zuma'

2008-01-28 10:19

Durban - Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi thinks "South Africa could do better than" African National Congress President Jacob Zuma, he wrote on his website.

Buthelezi was speaking about the row over Generations actress Winnie Ntshaba and her comments about the ANC when he mentioned that Zuma was not good enough for the country.

"I will not dissemble. I think South Africa can do better than what Mr Zuma and the ANC offers," he said.

"Politicians, we know, rarely create waves, but some are lucky enough to surf them. Mr Zuma, for sure, has uncanny political antenna and has read the restive mood of the country for change," said Buthelezi.

He also criticised journalists for their reporting on the soapie star's comments at an IFP rally last week.

More 'beef' in US contest

Ntshaba, who plays Khethiwe in the soapie Generations on SABC1, reportedly said: "The ANC tried to get rid of IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi". She was further quoted as saying: "We know what the ruling party does to people who oppose them. They kill them."

Later in the week, the ANC lashed out at the actress saying it was planning legal action against her for defaming the party.

On his website, Buthelezi says: "Ntshaba's role was as a narrator in telling the IFP story. Ntshaba was narrating as an actress," he said.

He claimed that the media had distorted her role.

"I find it remarkable that the very same commentators who caricature the IFP as being old-fashioned, then turn on a young and talented actress for making her professional skills available to us to help communicate our story."

Buthelezi went on to say that had Ntshaba been speaking for the ANC, "I'm quite sure it (the "distorted reporting") would not have happened".

He added that nearly every journalist asked if the rally was in response to Jacob Zuma's victory at the Polokwane conference.

"For the umpteenth time, I don't care a fig that Mr Zuma is a Zulu! It has about much relevancy as Tony Blair being English and Gordon Brown being a Scot. They are both Labour," he said.

He said the logical conclusion of those who said that Zuma would mop up Zulu support "like a souped up vacuum cleaner is that millions of Zulus vote as one monolithic bloc... They don't.

"Zulus have as diverse needs and aspirations as any other constituent group in the diverse wonder that we call South Africa."

Buthelezi then compared Zuma to Hillary Clinton.

"But like Hillary Clinton enquiring about her leading opponent last week, where is the beef?"

"I happen to believe there is quite a lot of beef in the American contest, but rather less in ours," said Buthelezi.

- SAPA