Zuma told to sit down and listen
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma must sit down and listen to other people and not stand in the way of new ideas.
TORCH BEARER: Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, holding the ANC's centenary torch, gave a memorial lecture on former ANC president Dr AB Xuma in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, June 2012. PHOTO: ALON SKUYThis is the latest message from Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale who seems to be on a campaign trail to replace Zuma at the ANC's electoral conference in Mangaung later this year.
Apparently constrained by the ANC's gag on campaigning and lobbying until October, Sexwale yesterday said he was not "running for anything [ANC's presidency]" and at the same time he was not "running away [from the presidential contest]".
Addressing thousands of ANC members in Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg, where he was delivering a memorial lecture on former ANC leader AB Xuma, Sexwale also cautioned Zuma to know when to "listen and when to sit down".
Sexwale vaguely criticised Zuma who has been delivering a series of lectures in honour of the ANC's past presidents since January as part of the party's centenary celebrations.
"It is not about how many lectures we deliver. JZ [Zuma] must also sit down and listen to other people when they speak," Sexwale said.
"For each lecturer there are listeners and each lecturer must know that there is a time to be lectured. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa [Zuma] must sit down and listen to other people talking.
"There is a time to lead and there is a time to go. Do not stand in front of ideas otherwise ideas will change you."
Sexwale reportedly attacked Zuma at a recent national executive committee meeting, accusing him of suppressing debate in the ANC.
Pointing to the ANC centenary flame, Sexwale said it should be used to bring light and not heat within the party.
He said it was the responsibility of every leader in the ANC to bring prosperity to the people.
"We must use this light to see opportunities and dangers that lie ahead. There is a lot of heat in the organisation, we get burnt. We need light not heat.
"The ANC was built on the rock of unity, if the ANC loses unity it is over," he said.
Sexwale sang the praises of former ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela, and requested the current generation to copy their selfless sacrifices.
"I served under him [Mandela] and I know him. Next month we must just go crazy [when we celebrate Mandela Day]," he said.
He also posed questions to the leadership of the ANC: "Are we relating to the values of these [past] leaders, are we equal to their principles? Do we understand their ethics, their morality or are we just paying lip service?"
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MorenaWaPolelo
Lip Service indeed comrade TMG will never fool us, l mut say l admire your opportunistic nature even though as always you timing is wrong Sir. Comrade TMG we do not need a leader with money no your characteristics so you must sit down and listen to us!!!! We do not need you !!!!Report Abuse
maneater
i do not like Tokyo but i have to give it to him is brave taking on the spear like that. i have grown tired of the silence from Motlanthe.Report Abuse
Nestum
I'm so disappointed by Tokyo's remarks. He wont b able to lead dis country. In fact he is like Zuma himself. How can u attack yo president like dat bcz de r channels where dis ANC MPs can raised their concerns. Tokyo 2 years back if nt mistaken, he took millions from KZN Housing bcos it was nt used. If u a gud lead how can u do dat when ppl dont hv houses. H wz suppose to lead by an example and make sure that doz who didnt perfom got fired and get ppl who can do work and build houses for KZN ppl, not to take money.Report Abuse
truthhurt
Lalela Baba!I dedicate this one to Msholozi!
Listen im all alone in the cross raod, im not at home in my own home, but i try and try to say whats on my mind, you should have known...
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Mmmooohooo
Mvela is dowm, where is mvela league. People bayaphanda, this time baphanda i presidency. Shame on you mr ambitious. JZ 4-2 TERMReport Abuse
Makeleketla
What took you so long Mr. Sexwale?Report Abuse
mambaaai
Well Said! Tokyo.... "a better life for all" is a given for any politician trying to run the country. But seems some politicians dont listen but rather try and convince themselves and the people "they know what they are doing" the people cry....but it falls on deaf ears...the people suffer but money gets spent on irrelevant stuff....and so on and so onReport Abuse
Mmmooohooo
We now know who FED malema with dictatorship tendencies. Try next door TK maybe you will cope.Report Abuse
ApelMankotsana
Zuma le yena o a tena....He has proposed what he referred to as the " second transition" as a policy to be debated in two weeks time during the policy conference. What stikes me a lot about this " second transition" is that in all the previous policy documents and the ANC policies dating backfrom the Freedom Charter, there was nothing referred to as the "first trnasition". When did the "first transition ? What were its underlying principles ? Have we achived all what is contained in the first trnasition....I will not have any problem if it is referred to as the era of economic revolution which s well documented in the ANC policy documents.Report Abuse
tpaz
The gloves are off......Report Abuse
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