ANC presidential candidate Jacob Zuma's reference to Afrikaners as the only "truly" South African white group in the country is an insult to them, says Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille."It is the well-known 'divide and rule' tactic, which authoritarian racist governments always use to divide their opponents," she said in her weekly newsletter on Friday.
Zuma met representatives of various Afrikaner agricultural, women's and cultural organisations in Johannesburg on Thursday, telling them: "Of all the white groups that are in South Africa, it is only the Afrikaners that are truly South Africans in the true sense of the word."
Referring to this, Zille said Zuma had patronisingly tried to "curry favour" with white Afrikaners.
"Zuma thought he was flattering Afrikaners. He was actually insulting them," she said.
The implication of his message was: "By seeming to flatter, I can actually fool you all into forgetting about the corruption allegations against me. By pressing the ethnic button, I can also distract your attention from the ANC's power abuse."
Zille said this was an "outrageous insult" to every Afrikaner.
Source : Sapa /rod/ks
Date : 03 Apr 2009 16:09
