Duduzane Zuma says South Africans should be grateful to his father

Duduzane Zuma told a Biznews conference that South Africans should be grateful to his father, Jacob Zuma, saying the former president had helped the country avoid “revolts” and had guided people through difficult times.

Gratitude and guidance

At the conference, Duduzane described Jacob Zuma as a figure many look to “for guidance, for leadership as a statesman, as an elder in the community.” He said his father had created opportunities for the black majority and had “held people back and said, ‘We will get through this.'”

“He has spoken them through it; he has guided them through it. He is here to do it once again, and we should hope that he will be here for a much longer time,” Duduzane said.

Defending the MK party

Duduzane responded to criticism about relatives’ involvement in the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), saying he was focused on his job and on creating a better country.

“I am here to do my job, that’s it. I am here to create exactly what you think, to create a better country. I am here to move the country forward. I am here to make sure that everyone’s rights are respected and that everyone has fair opportunity.”

He said the party asks those who are in charge of the country’s wealth to “meet” the victims of apartheid halfway and transform the economic landscape. Duduzane also said the party will grow in preparation for the 2029 general elections.

Criticism and context

The Citizen reports that ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula criticised Jacob Zuma for his involvement in state capture and the mass looting of state resources during his time as head of state. The report notes Zuma visited one of the Gupta brothers in India despite the brothers being identified as fugitives in South Africa, and that some in the ANC have described Zuma’s presidency as “nine wasted years.”

Can Duduzane lead?

Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast told The Citizen that Duduzane will have to understand the political landscape if he intends to take over his father’s political party one day.

“Politics is different cattle of fish to understand politics. It takes a great deal of time. It takes assimilation or internalisation of class consciousness. I have never heard him articulating a particular view coherently,”

The comments form part of an opinion and profile piece published by The Citizen.