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HOT SEAT: President Jacob Zuma during an interview with Redi Tlhabi at the Talk Radio 702 studios in Sandton, Johannesburg, yesterday. PHOTO: MOHAU MOFOKENG

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In a startling revelation during an interview on Talk Radio 702 yesterday, Zuma reiterated his earlier endorsement of Malema before their relationship turned frosty.

Zuma said: "On the issue of Julius, where I said there was a leader in this young man, I did not compare him to Tambo. I said there was a potential of a leader in him ... I still hold the view [that] in him there is a leader."

But Zuma indicated that he would not entertain the attacks on him by Malema.

"Those are his views, I do not want to debate his views. Whatever Malema said, it is not fair to engage him. I have decided he must do whatever he thinks is good for him."

A one-time Zuma die-hard, Malema has not only lashed out at the president's leadership, but has also said he regretted ever supporting him. He has also questioned Zuma's morality after he fathered an illegitimate child with his friend and Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza's daughter Sonono, and questioned the nature in which corruption charges against Zuma were dropped.

Zuma insisted that disciplinary action taken against Malema leading to his expulsion was necessary and in line with the ANC constitution. But he cautioned it was incorrect to say he had failed to reprimand Malema when he insulted leaders, including former president Thabo Mbeki, because it benefited his (Zuma's) ambitions.

"I stood up when Mbeki was insulted, not just by Malema, but by the youth league. I am on record, I stood up and said: 'No don't do it'," he said, referring to an incident during the ANC's pivotal Polokwane conference at which he ascended to the party's throne. In Polokwane, the Mbeki faction was met with a hostile reception.

In September 2008, Mbeki was unceremoniously dethroned as South Africa's president before the conclusion of his second term.

ANC veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has also become a Zuma critic, questioning his polygamous lifestyle in an interview - which has earned him six marriages in his 70 years. She has also labelled the government as a "tender government". Madikizela-Mandela's full interview will be broadcast on DStv in September.

Zuma insists his lifestyle is not an impediment to leadership. He also refused to respond to Madikizela-Mandela's allegations.

"I have personal views about [everything], but I keep them to myself unless someone is doing something that breaks the law. It is not wise to discuss personal things ... I respect others' cultures."

Zuma defended his leadership, saying: "I have done things the way they should be done and where there were mistakes I have admitted, and that is how being a human being is."

Zuma also spoke about government's commitment to curb corruption and emphasised that they had not placed politics above education.

He has been faced with a lot of criticism over his "inaction" in dealing with urgent matters, including the textbooks debacle in Limpopo.

Asked when he would fire Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Zuma said Motshekga had been sitting in Pretoria when all that was happening and was not to be entirely blamed. - nhlabathih@soweta.co.za

Comments

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Tue May 21 23:13:59 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 24, 2012

Memme

Ku shubile manje ke baba zuma.
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Jul 24, 2012

januswanus

Aaaaahhhh Zuma is strong to be threaten by Warmonger Malema. Good shot my president, clean up image not be drawn into petty fights. Second term is coming. From managing to nkandla we don't want a sleepy president speaking picking lips.
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Jul 24, 2012

RobinH

januswanus: ???????

Prez, you are just a joke. Seriously. Try your best a little more.
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Jul 24, 2012

SOLUTIONS

Dear what other people call their president, i do not have any respect for you, your malema creation or your whole anc criminal organisation. thank you for adding the 3rd fraudster corrupt anc cadre for police commissioner. well done,. idiot.

dear anc and ancyl supporters, i really think you need to go for a scan to see if you have a brain, if not,, please shoot yourself because you are making this country a worse place. You are the biggest idiots in all of this because the idiot like in this article is sitting laughing at the stupid people voting for him and his criminal cronies, they will try to keep you and your children stupid as you now are to vote for the anc. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE STUPIDITY.

Thank you.
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Jul 24, 2012

Mmmooohooo

Leading to Polokwane, JZ was persecuted and he emerged victorious, now it's Mangaung, the Gods of the ANC are covering JZ. Malema and his friends will bite the DUST.
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Jul 24, 2012

Pointman

Well by his standard and ANC standard Malema is a leader. Look around and see the mess we are in - now we know why. Leadership for him means getting the top job - thats it. Forget about visions of a prosperous, educated and healthy country. These things are for the ANC elite only - the people have no right to demand these things.
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Jul 24, 2012

Arewanga

Whether he sees him as a leader or not, we dont want you Zuma, step down

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Jul 24, 2012

Mmmooohooo

@SOLUTIONS

Dumela ntate! Omathateng ele ka nnete, the only solution to your solutions is to sick citizenship elswhere. Not unless you have aquired a fongkong citizenship. Traitor- yo judas
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Jul 24, 2012

AFRICANT

Leader my butt....Malema wants to be King, Mama Winnie will be his sugar mommy and together they will ruin the last bit of Africa that is truly civilized....He will make a fine and dashing dictator .....
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Jul 24, 2012

Real-Mogwanthi

I dont care what happens between Malema and Zuma and they can take thier issues into the bedroom since 1 of them is a sexaholic but my concern is poor leadership of this country that other blacks and old man "Mr Mandela" fought for!
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