Vavi explains 'kill for Zuma'

2008-06-23 17:44

Johannesburg - Trade unionist leader Zwelinzima Vavi sought to clarify on Monday his "kill for Zuma" remark made at the weekend, saying it should be viewed within context.

Meanwhile the South African Human Rights Commission spokesperson Vincent Moaga said the SAHRC would write a letter to Vavi "to express our contempt" at his statement.

In a media release to "set the record straight", Vavi, the general secretary of the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), said he was talking about the willingness to lay down one's own life for a struggle comrade.

"I went further to say yes, for one another and for our leaders we are prepared to lay down our lives. Yes, for our revolution we are prepared to shoot and kill. I singled out (African National Congress leader) Jacob Zuma to make an example.

"I said because Jacob Zuma is one of us and is one of our leaders, for him and for our revolution we are prepared to lay down our lives and for him we are prepared to shoot and kill."

Complaint laid at SAHRC

The Democratic Alliance's leader in parliament, Sandra Botha, said she had laid a complaint against Vavi at the SAHRC on Monday.

"These statements could very well incite real violence if repeated often enough - especially in the event that Zuma's presidential bid is scuppered ahead of the next election," said Botha.

Vavi's comments were made at the funeral of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union's vice president Pretty Shuping on Saturday.

It came after ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema said its members were "prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma".

The SAHRC has given Malema until next week Wednesday to apologise for his statement which he has refused to do so far.

Moaga said the commission discussed Vavi's comments at a meeting on Monday morning and had decided to write a letter to him to "express our contempt".

Such language 'not advisable'

"It is not as if we are saying that people must not debate and discuss issues ... but whatever discourse they engage in must be within the confines of the Constitution.

"We think it is not advisable to use such language as they have been using, whether it is figurative or not, it is still not acceptable," said Moaga.

He said that if Malema had not apologised by next week Wednesday, the commission could either decide to give him more time to respond, or it could subpoena him to appear for a hearing before the SAHRC.

The SAHRC would then make a recommendation and if the respondent failed to adhere to that, the commission could take the matter to the courts.

- SAPA