COPE ‘hypocrite’ Shilowa demands Zuma resignation

NONI MOKATI

JOHANNESBURG - The Congress of the People (COPE) leadership is demanding the resignation of President Jacob Zuma for fathering a child out of wedlock.

Addressing the media in Johannesburg yesterday following the party’s national strategic planning session at the weekend, COPE secretary-general Charlotte Lobe said in a statement that because of Zuma’s sexual indiscretions South Africa had become a laughing stock around the world.

“In a country with the highest figures of the HIV/Aids pandemic, the President has failed to heed his own government’s call on fighting the pandemic,” she said.

These scathing comments by the party follow Zuma’s admission that he had fathered a child with the daughter of Orlando Pirates, chairman, Irvin Khoza.

Zuma has since apologised.

COPE deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa said: “Ours is not about the humiliation of the President but we are concerned about South Africa and the impact the ruling party has had on the country,” he said.

But the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) hit back at Shilowa, saying he was being hypocritical as he had fathered two children and subsequently failed to give one of them any financial support or even acknowledge his existence.

“At least the President owned up to his mistake, acknowledged his paternity and paid damages,” said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven.