Black Ladies" Even if you straighten your hair, you will never be white' - President Jacob Zuma

'Even if you straighten your hair, you will never be white' - Zuma

Jacob Zuma claims there is a new generation of young Africans who are trying to adopt other lifestyles and even trying to look like others

President Jacob Zuma delivered a controversial speech in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, during which he lambasted young black people.

There was a new generation of young Africans who were trying to adopt other lifestyles and even trying to look like others, he said.

“Even if you apply any kind of lotion and straighten your hair you will never be white,” Zuma said.

Instead, a person lost dignity and ubuntu, and was also likely to lose respect and love for his fellow human beings, Zuma charged.

He said black people should stop adopting the habits of other cultures.

As he talked, the audience of thousands – attending the annual commemoration of the induction of Inkosi Sibongiseni Zuma – laughed and applauded.

It was Jacob Zuma’s first public appearance since being re-elected ANC president in Mangaung a week ago.

Amongst other things, Zuma described people who loved dogs more than people as “having a lack of humanity”.

He claimed that spending money on buying a dog, taking it to the vet and for walks belonged to white culture and was not the African way.

On marital problems, Zuma said families should resolve issues instead of running to religious leaders.

In future, Zuma said, every December 18 there would be a gathering in KwaNxamalala, near Impendle, where the youth would be educated about the importance of preserving African culture.

“We normally have this day (the commemoration) on December 26; from next year we are going to bring it forward to December 18. We need to use it to correct each other and protect our culture,” he said.

The president showered residents with gifts including groceries, wheelchairs, blankets and lawnmowers.

One family was given a four-roomed house and a bed.

Reacting to Zuma's comments on pets, National SPCA spokeswoman Christine Kuch said she could not comment on Zuma’s statement as she had not heard him speak, but added that many South Africans felt deep compassion for their animals.

“We cannot have compassion for animals if we do not have compassion for children and the elderly,” she said.

Kuch said care given to animals, in most cases, benefited people.

“If donkeys are better cared for, they are in better condition to carry water or carry a child to school; when dogs are taken to vets for vaccination, it protects people. Caring for an animal and a person goes together.”

Zuma is known for making controversial comments. Just recently, in an SABC3 television interview in August, he said it was “not right” for women to be single and that having children provided them with “extra training”.

He was speaking about his daughter Duduzile’s marriage, saying: “I wouldn’t want to stay with daughters who are not getting married. 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”.

Source: The Mercury