Booing of the president can never be a norm‚ says Sisulu

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma reacts during the launch of a social housing project in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. REUTERS/Rogan Ward
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma reacts during the launch of a social housing project in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

ANC leader Lindiwe Sisulu has said the booing of President Jacob Zuma should never be regarded a normal act.

Sisulu‚ who is a member of the ruling party’s national executive committee and also human settlements minister‚ was speaking to reporters on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Military Veterans Housing Dialogue in Boksburg.

Zuma was booed by supporters of trade union federation Cosatu at a May Day rally in Bloemfontein on Monday.

He left without addressing the workers.

“Whatever it was‚ it just wasn’t good‚” Sisulu said.

“I think I would like to see an ANC that is able to express itself without taking away the dignity of anybody. I believe it could have been better done‚” she said.

Booing a sign of democracy at work says ZumaPresident Jacob Zuma has brushed aside being booed at the Workers Day celebration in Manguang on Monday‚ saying it was merely a reflection of democracy at work. 

She said that if workers felt they did not want the president to address them‚ they could have sent a delegation to informing him of their wishes. In the worst case scenario‚ they could have walked away.

“Things repeated too often become a norm and you don’t want to go into the future with this kind of possibility — a head of state being dealt with that way‚” Sisulu said.

“Booing the head of state is not the kind of norm our children should grow up with‚” she said.

“There has just got to be some semblance of dignity around a head of state and I just feel if they really didn’t want him‚ they should have taken steps‚ gone to him directly and said‚ Mr President‚ please don’t come.”

Zuma has brushed off the incident‚ saying workers were simply exercising their democratic right.

 

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