Quotes of the week
JOHANNESBURG - A selection of quotes of southern African interest.
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“No wonder the country is shot to bits... this old fool is too busy shagging instead of working... what a joke of a country...” -- Posted by “siganoga” on www.thetimeslive.co.za in response to a report that President Jacob Zuma fathered a love child with the daughter of soccer boss Irvin Khoza.
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“This is not Zulu culture. Having children out of wedlock has always been frowned upon by our people. Jacob Zuma is a disgrace to us as a nation and if the ŠsicÆ ever was a time to consider recalling a head of state -ITS ŠsicÆ NOW!” -- Posted by “Zulu Warrior” on thetimeslive.co.za.
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“Ag no, sies man! Does he want to become the ‘Father of the Nation’ by sheer weight of children?” -- A comment on the same site by “biltong69”.
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“Forget the Presidential motorcade, we'll need a buscade at the rate he’s going.” -- Another reader’s comment.
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“As the ANC, we have always made a distinction between people’s personal affairs and their public responsibilities.” -- Party spokesman Brian Mthembu.
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“Why does our President display such stereotypical bad behaviour of a randy black womaniser? I feel ashamed. Making babies like South Africa does not have a huge HIV Aids problem coupled with gender problems... How are the youth expected to behave?” -- Housing Minister Tokyo Sexwale’s niece Kananelo Sexwale in a comment on Facebook.
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“The more you become a public figure and the more your actions have public consequences and are publicly important, the less you can demand to have your privacy protected.” -- Constitutional law expert Professor Pierre de Vos.
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“The media is also in essence questioning the right of the child to exist and fundamentally, her right to life. It is unfortunate that the matter has been handled in this way.” -- Zuma in his reply to criticism.
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“As students we view the public discussion of such aspects of old people’s lives as embarrassing and un-African.” -- SA Students’ Congress president Mbulelo Mandlana.
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“We are Africans and sitting here all of us, Zuma is our father so we are not qualified to talk about that.” -- ANC Youth League president Julius Malema on Zuma’s love child.
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“In my lifetime, there'll be no nationalisation.” -- Mining Minister Susan Shabangu.
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“Nationalisation, whether Shabangu likes it or not, will occur within our lifetime and surely within hers; unless she will die young.” -- SA Students’ Congress responding to Shabangu’s comments.
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“SA police members deserve the best... The day is declared family day of police, we will dance and eat meat. If you have a problem, sorry.” --National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele on Police Day.
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“Somebody please tell me why I cannot say thank you to you?” -- Cele again, responding to criticism the event was a waste of time and money.
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“It is ridiculous. This entire court case was unfair and illustrates the approval of corruption and Stalinism. It breached just about every human right.” -- SA fugitive Dirk Prinsloo, quoted in Beeld, after being sentenced in the Baranowitsji district court in Belarus to 13 years’ imprisonment for theft, assault and attempted bank robbery.
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“When history opens a window of opportunity, it is important to jump through it.” -- Former president FW de Klerk in a speech commemorating the 20th anniversary of his address to Parliament in which he announced the release of Nelson Mandela.
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Sapa