PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Travelling SA President under fire at home
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, who is in Los Cabos, Mexico, for Monday’s meeting of the G20 Summit, has come under enormous criticism back home, where he has been accused of deliberately avoiding a potentially-embarrassing showdown at the country’s main Youth Day rally.
Tension has been running high between Zuma and the Youth wing of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), following the expulsion of its leader Julius Malema.
Mr. Malema and the party have targetted Zuma over the expulsion.
There was chaos at the Youth Day rally in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, when speakers were booed off the stage by rowdy youth chanting for the return of Mr. Malema.
Security officials were forced to drag youth league supporters off the stage.
Political opponents and analysts have entered the fray, questioning President Zuma’s commitment to ordinary South Africans.
The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said President Zuma’s absence suggested he had “no interest” in engaging the country’s young people.
The President “chose to abandon the youth of South Africa on the one day dedicated to their struggles and achievements,” said DA Youth chairwoman Mbali Ntuli.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj downplayed the dispute, saying President Zuma’s itinerary was "adjusted" so that he could attend the G20 event.
He said President Zuma would also travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the UN conference on Sustainable Development.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 18June2012
Tension has been running high between Zuma and the Youth wing of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), following the expulsion of its leader Julius Malema.
Mr. Malema and the party have targetted Zuma over the expulsion.
There was chaos at the Youth Day rally in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, when speakers were booed off the stage by rowdy youth chanting for the return of Mr. Malema.
Security officials were forced to drag youth league supporters off the stage.
Political opponents and analysts have entered the fray, questioning President Zuma’s commitment to ordinary South Africans.
The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said President Zuma’s absence suggested he had “no interest” in engaging the country’s young people.
The President “chose to abandon the youth of South Africa on the one day dedicated to their struggles and achievements,” said DA Youth chairwoman Mbali Ntuli.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj downplayed the dispute, saying President Zuma’s itinerary was "adjusted" so that he could attend the G20 event.
He said President Zuma would also travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the UN conference on Sustainable Development.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 18June2012
