The Democratic Alliance and African National Congress have issued statements welcoming President Jacob Zuma’s apology that he “deeply regretted” the pain he caused his family, the ANC and South Africans after revelations that he fathered a child out of wedlock.
In her response to Zuma’s apology, Helen Zille on Saturday demonstrated why she is considered by so many to be such an outstanding leader: “Zuma must now match words with deeds … The Democratic Alliance welcomes President Zuma’s apology to the South African public. But words are not enough, he must now focus on repairing the damage he has done to the fight against HIV/Aids. It is worth recalling that Jacob Zuma has apologised in exactly these terms before. He must show that his deeds match his words. Leadership is as leadership does.”
Her willingness to show forgiveness, calling the president out on his failure to live up to his previous promise and demand that he begin to repair the damage he has done to the HIV/Aids campaign is of the stuff that top world leaders are made of. It balances compassion with responsibility and is a credit to her and the party.
In turn, the ANC too are showing remarkable progress in their response.
On Saturday a close Zuma loyalist confirmed to the Saturday Star that the ANC leaders and Zuma entered a “sex pact” shortly after his election as party president at Polokwane in 2007, and that he was warned not to embarrass the ANC with sexual revelations similar to his 2006 rape trial. That pact was broken and the source confirmed that ANC senior leaders — while publicly loyal — were very perturbed by the revelations.
This came a day after they released a statement saying the ANC had taken note of the criticisms of the public and the media and needed a short break to consider them.
This was followed by a full blown apology by the president, rather than an apology plus blame game, and the acceptance thereof by the ANC and the Democratic Alliance.
This does not mean that everything in the whole world is hunky dory and we can now dance around a tree and go home for apple pie.
It actually means something far more important.
It demonstrates a formula founded in honesty, which recognises problems and attempts to deal with them, as opposed to bluster and trying to deflect blame on to others, will bring about worthwhile solutions rather than deep division.
More importantly it will earn the respect of South Africans and the international community.
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