I just accept that, if my party and my compatriots wish that I be removed from office, they must exercise that right and do so in the manner prescribed in the Constitution.
— Jacob Zuma
Judgments that give an impression that we can disregard the Constitution for political expediency, or to solve what we regard as current problems, set a dangerous precedence which will make it difficult to govern in future or to make ordinary citizens to abide by the Constitution.
All my life, I have served and will continue to serve the ANC in its pursuit of the objectives of the National Democratic Revolution.
I am forever indebted to the ANC, the liberation movement I have served almost all my life.
The youth of the ANC, ever since 1944 when it was established, has been very vocal. It has made suggestions on things so that, at times, old people said, 'What are you doing?' That is its nature. Alliance partners, they have always raised issues. In fact, that is what brings vibrancy in the alliance. People misread that as huge fights.
The economy in South Africa was racially structured for many decades, if not centuries.
I'm a very honest politician.
Radical socio-economic transformation is a policy of the ANC. As a leader of the ANC, you have to implement the policy. When I talk about radical socio-economic transformation, it's not my thing; it's an ANC policy.
The majority in this country have not seen anything wrong with Zuma. I go with the overwhelming feeling of this country. If the majority say, 'Zuma, do this,' I will do it.
People are constantly applying double standards. Take the United States, for example. Washington wants the whole world to admire the country for its democracy. Then the government sends out its army, in the name of this democracy, and leaves behind the kind of chaos we see in Iraq.
When I joined the ANC, I never thought I would be anything. In no way, did I say, 'One day I could be the president. I think I am good material for the presidency.' Not at all.
I fear no motion of no confidence or impeachment, for they are the lawful mechanisms for the people of this beautiful country to remove their president.
Our people are frustrated when we spend more time fighting among ourselves than focusing on solving the day-to-day challenges they experience.
None of us, no matter how perfect, can claim that the building of a new society and the marshalling of a former liberation movement into a modern political party all happen in a straight line.
In no country are all the people factory owners. The majority are workers.
My view is instead of political discussions, persuasions, which dominate democracy, in our country we have taken our democracy to the other extreme. There is no debate, sufficient debate. There is court debate.
We have a history in South Africa of an entrenched white monopoly capital.
My love of South Africa is not gray; it's not vague. It's very specific. It's in keeping with our Constitution - 'Unity in diversity.'
If you grow the economy, then you become stronger, and you can resist many other things.
There is no cloud above my head - there is not even a mist.
Criminality is always the result of poverty. Countries that experience such a fundamental change as we have - we had the apartheid regime and must now develop a multicultural democracy - must necessarily pass through a phase of high crime rates.
As a citizen of this country, I've got to be honest to the people of South Africa.
If we avail ourselves to serve in terms of the Constitution, we should be prepared if, indeed, those we serve deem it appropriate to suffer the hardship that comes with our constitutional obligations.
Theft and corruption in the private sector is as bad as that in government and must be dealt with decisively by law enforcement agencies.
I do take seriously and am grateful to the ANC that, in the face of its revolutionary mission to ensure a better life for all and the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa, it deployed me at the pinnacle of its role in government.
In government, things do not move too quick. That is why I am trying to introduce a new culture: so that things move more quickly.
We are a constitutional democracy. We must deal with things properly within the framework of the law and then the constitution.
I don't think, in a country, you can have people thinking and feeling exactly the same.
I have fought corruption.
You don't just end up with freedom when you have the vote. The struggle continues.
Africa suffered under European dominance for centuries.
We South Africans are also crazy about football, so the World Cup can be nothing but successful.
