The ANC came before democracy in South Africa was established, President Jacob Zuma told parliament in an attempt to clarify earlier statements that the ANC came before the country.
Zuma was asked about the comments twice during his final question and answer session for the year. On both occasions, he said the ANC, established in 1912, was around before democratic South Africa.
However, things got heated when, in response to DA MP Geordin Hill-Lewis, Zuma said that “when I address the ANC members, I speak to the ANC but when I speak to South Africa, I speak to the country”.
He said the meeting at which he spoke had been an ANC one. “This was an ANC meeting discussing policy and issues – why are you so interested in the ANC?”
But DA leader Mmusi Maimane was unimpressed, and stood shouting for Zuma to answer the question and asking “Can the ANC pay for Nkandla?”
Speaker Baleka Mbete had to make several requests for Maimane to take his seat as ANC MPs shouted at him.
Earlier, the president said both academic freedom and the institutional autonomy of universities were relative, and had to be balanced by accountability to the public.
Zuma was asked by ANC MP Fikile Majola about the meaning of institutional autonomy in the context of public accountability, and whether institutional autonomy had a material influence on the ability of the government to take decisions with regard to the transformation of tertiary education institutions.
Zuma answered that the recently published Higher Education Amendment Bill would deal with issues of institutional autonomy, which arose from the meeting he had with university management and student representatives at the Union Buildings at the height of the unrest.
“We need to get the balance right between autonomy and public accountability, while still promoting academic freedom which is enshrined in the constitution.
“Government invests public resources to ensure that institutions contribute to national development goals and this has to be met by a degree of accountability to the South African public,” said Zuma.
The president’s trademark chuckle caused some consternation among members.
His chuckle, at the end of one question, caused EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi to ask that Zuma “takes us seriously”.
But even as he spoke, Zuma chuckled. And later, unable to contain his laugh, Zuma said “I don’t know how to stop my laughter. Is it hurting?”
Zuma grilled over ANC remarks
Zuma was asked about the comments twice during his final question and answer session for the year. On both occasions, he said the ANC, established in 1912, was around before democratic South Africa.
However, things got heated when, in response to DA MP Geordin Hill-Lewis, Zuma said that “when I address the ANC members, I speak to the ANC but when I speak to South Africa, I speak to the country”.
He said the meeting at which he spoke had been an ANC one. “This was an ANC meeting discussing policy and issues – why are you so interested in the ANC?”
But DA leader Mmusi Maimane was unimpressed, and stood shouting for Zuma to answer the question and asking “Can the ANC pay for Nkandla?”
Speaker Baleka Mbete had to make several requests for Maimane to take his seat as ANC MPs shouted at him.
Earlier, the president said both academic freedom and the institutional autonomy of universities were relative, and had to be balanced by accountability to the public.
Zuma was asked by ANC MP Fikile Majola about the meaning of institutional autonomy in the context of public accountability, and whether institutional autonomy had a material influence on the ability of the government to take decisions with regard to the transformation of tertiary education institutions.
Zuma answered that the recently published Higher Education Amendment Bill would deal with issues of institutional autonomy, which arose from the meeting he had with university management and student representatives at the Union Buildings at the height of the unrest.
“We need to get the balance right between autonomy and public accountability, while still promoting academic freedom which is enshrined in the constitution.
“Government invests public resources to ensure that institutions contribute to national development goals and this has to be met by a degree of accountability to the South African public,” said Zuma.
The president’s trademark chuckle caused some consternation among members.
His chuckle, at the end of one question, caused EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi to ask that Zuma “takes us seriously”.
But even as he spoke, Zuma chuckled. And later, unable to contain his laugh, Zuma said “I don’t know how to stop my laughter. Is it hurting?”
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