SACP+and+COSATU+Statements+on+Zuma+apology

09 May 9, 2006
=SACP Statement on Jacob Zuma’s apology=

The SACP welcomes and accepts Cde Jacob Zuma’s bold and exemplary statement in unconditionally apologising for having had unprotected sex. The SACP has consistently maintained that nothing that had been said in court deviates from its commitment to fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in all its dimensions, based on the fact that HIV causes AIDS.

The apology by Cde Zuma, his reiteration of his commitment to the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the struggle against gender-based violence should be taken as yet another clarion call to redouble our efforts against these scourges.

In the spirit of **//ubuntu//** and our fight against vindictiveness and media cannibalism, we urge all South Africans to accept this apology and recommit ourselves to the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge, women’s oppression and gender-based violence. Very few leaders have had the courage to accept their sometimes, very glaring errors and serious mistakes on matters of this nature.

The SACP also welcomes Cde Zuma’s call that the complainant in his erstwhile case should in no way be vilified or condemned, and that instead she needs help.

The SACP will continue to play its part in these important struggles, in order to ensure that we truly create a caring South African society.

Issued by:

SACP General Secretary
 * Blade Nzimande

For information Contact:** Malesela Maleka SACP Spokesperson Mobile: 082 226 1802 Tel: 011 339 3621 Fax : 011 339 4244 malesela@sacp.org.za **



=COSATU welcomes Zuma apology=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the apology by ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma for having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman.

COSATU has repeatedly urged everyone to abide by the ABC rules to prevent being infected by HIV – Abstain, Be faithful, Condomise. We regret the fact that Jacob Zuma broke these rules and we agree with Judge Willem van der Merwe that "It is totally unacceptable that a man should have unprotected sex with a person other than his regular partner and definitely not with a person who, to his knowledge, is HIV-positive”.

COSATU however fully accepts Jacob Zuma’s apology and his admission that he “should have been more cautious and more responsible". We applaud his commitment to join the war against Aids, a pandemic that affects one in seven adults in South Africa and threatens the lives of countless thousands unless we unite to defeat it, and we look forward to campaigning together with him to win this war against HIV/AIDS.


 * Patrick Craven (Editor, Shopsteward Journal)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**


 * P.O.Box 1019**
 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * South Africa**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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