Publications
- The outgoing Executive Director of UN Women says former president Jacob Zuma opposed her appointment to the UN.
- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka made the remarks during an interview on Newzroom405 on Tuesday.
- The Jacob Zuma Foundation bit back at the claims, saying government had issued a statement of support.
Outgoing Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka says former president Jacob Zuma did not recommend her appointment to the global body, but, had in fact, opposed it.
"He actually did not recommend me. In fact, he protested my appointment and challenged the ambassador of SA to the United Nations at the time, for not stopping this, which the ambassador could not stop because it was a prerogative of the General-Secretary," she explained during an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday.
Mlambo-Ngcuka made the comments after a viewer asked: "When are you going to thank former president Jacob Zuma for recommending you to the United Nations?"
Mlambo-Ngcuka told the television channel that it was a "competitive bid" and that South Africa had nothing to do with it.
"It was a competitive bid to be appointed, even though I was approached... but I still needed to do an interview, and they decided on who they wanted, so South Africa had nothing to do with it. If anything, they were against it," she said.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation had not taken the remarks lightly.
Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi hit back in a tweet: "Why would Ms. Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka on @Newzroom405 make claims that are not borne out by available facts that H.E Prez Zuma did not support her nomination. There was even a government statement in her support."
Why would Ms. Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka on @Newzroom405 make claims that are not borne out by available facts that H.E Prez Zuma did not support her nomination.There was even a Government statement in her support.https://t.co/c2RWj5i6rw pic.twitter.com/UabcUN8L7m
— Mzwanele Manyi (@MzwaneleManyi) August 24, 2021
He further added a link to a 2013 government statement where Zuma had congratulated Mlambo-Ngcuka on her appointment to the UN.
Asked for further comment, Manyi referred News24 to his tweet.
READ | UN Women gets first SA leaderMlambo-Ngcuka, the first woman in South Africa's Presidency, was appointed as Executive Director of UN Women in 2013.
In 2005, then president Thabo Mbeki replaced Zuma with Mlambo-Ngcuka, which made her the first female deputy president - from 22 June 2005 to 24 September 2008.
Mlambo-Ngcuka resigned in September 2008, after Mbeki stepped down as president, News24 reported.
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