ANC was there long before democracy - Zuma

Democracy is the brainchild of the ANC, do not forget that, President Jacob Zuma reminded Parliament on Thursday.

The president was responding to questions in Parliament on his “ANC comes first” comments, which had raised the ire of opposition parties.

EFF MP Hlengiwe Hlophe asked if the Presidency was divided on what he said at the KwaZulu-Natal ANC conference earlier this month.

Standing by his comments, Zuma said he was speaking to ANC members and not the country.

“Talking about the importance of the ANC - the ANC that fought for freedom. That freed South Africa because it loved it. I was telling them that for the ANC to be united, to work together to take South Africa where it should go, is a big job.”

He told Parliament that the ANC was around before democracy in South Africa.

“It fought for it. Democracy was brought by the ANC and it is the brainchild of the ANC. Do not forget that.”

He said he was speaking to ANC members as their leader, and not to South Africans as head of state.

He raised the ire of opposition MPs when he asked why they were so interested in the ruling party.

"Why are you always talking about the ANC? You love the ANC. We never talk about your meetings, so why are you so interested in the ANC?"

Zuma said the ruling party was very important as it was taking the country to prosperity.