Our top ten favourite Jacob Zuma quotes

JOBURG – Following Jacob Zuma's departure as president, we rounded up a list of our favourite quotes.

February 15, 2018

Laura Pisanello 2 minutes read

As South Africans bid farewell to President Jacob Zuma, we rounded up a list of some of his quotes that had us shaking our heads.

Nkandla

“I did not use the public’s money in Nkandla. What I’m saying is I’m not guilty. Even if they look for me under a tree they can’t find me. I did nothing wrong. I did not do anything. They go around and say this fella used public money. I am not guilty, there is no case against me.” These are quotes in response to the former public protector, Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report, which was released in 2014.

ANC is blessed by Heaven

God expects [the ANC] to rule this country because we are the only organisation which was blessed by pastors when it was formed. It is even blessed in Heaven. That is why we will rule until Jesus comes back,” said Zuma while campaigning in 2008.

Take a shower

“[A shower] would minimise the risk of contracting the disease,” said Zuma to the Johannesburg High Court when it was alleged that he had raped an HIV-positive woman.

What is a crook?

“Me? Well, I don’t know. I must go to a dictionary and learn what a crook is. I’ve never been a crook.” This quote was in response to a question asked during the filming of the documentary, No More Mandelas.

One term of presidency would be enough

“I would prefer to leave after one term. Even if it is not one term, I think in the second term I should be able to begin the process of winding down. I would allow open debate, not make people guess what is going to happen in terms of succession. This would allow the organisation to indicate what it wants. But if it was me deciding, if the ANC had made me president of the country (I would prefer one term),” said Zuma in 2008 before becoming president.

State Capture

There’s no parliament that’s captured, there’s no executive that’s captured, there are only individuals. But they’re always talking about state capture. That’s political propaganda.” Zuma’s opinion on State Capture, which he expressed during an exclusive interview with ANN7 last year.

Kids give women extra training

“I know that people today think being single is nice. It’s actually not right. That’s a distortion. You’ve got to have kids. Kids are important to a woman because they actually give an extra training to a woman, to be a mother,” said Zuma while speaking about his happiness for his daughter Duduzile’s marriage.

Here are also some that made complete sense:

Public servants should be transparent

“I think it is important to say that public servants, in particular, more than anybody else, ought to be aware that they should be more upright and transparent in so far as the use of public funds is concerned.” In response to questions during the National Assembly in 2000.

Nelson Mandela

“What made Nelson Mandela great, was precisely what made him human. We saw in him, what we seek in ourselves,” said Zuma following Nelson Mandela’s death in 2013.

Foreign Nationals

“While some foreign nationals have been arrested for various crimes, it is misleading and wrong to label or regard all foreign nationals as being involved in crime in the country.” In response to violence against foreign nationals in 2015.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done” – a quote about removing Jacob Zuma from office. https://t.co/KFwLYUaeKA

— Saxonwold Shebeen (@StateShebeen) February 12, 2018