Unfazed Zuma forges ahead

[caption id="attachment_117139" align="aligncenter" width="500"] FEELING THE BEAT: President Jacob Zuma and Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa enjoy the music at the Reconciliation Day celebrations at the NMMU Missionvale Campus in Port Elizabeth yesterday. Picture: MIKE HOLMES[/caption]

No mention of calls to step down as leader addresses nation

CALM, confident and seemingly unfazed by the mounting calls for him to be sacked, President Jacob Zuma told thousands of people in Port Elizabeth yesterday that South Africa was a deeply scarred nation that needed to heal from its traumatic past.

Delivering the official Reconciliation Day speech – in what is arguably his toughest week in office – Zuma appeared focused.

He said the concept of true reconciliation was “not about being cosy” with each other, but confronting economic inequalities.

In his 47-minute speech, Zuma made no direct reference to the marches against him in different parts of the country.

Nor did he refer to the dramatic, unprecedented week in which South Africa had three finance ministers.

Instead, the president announced that following the marches, the government had decided to fork out 83% of the R2.3-billion needed to finance universities as a result of the no-fee increase agreed to for next year.