Zuma says campaigners calling for his resignation want blacks to remain poor

President Jacob Zuma on Sunday said mounting calls by civil society groups for him to step down from office in the wake of his controversial Cabinet reshuffle were merely a defence of colonialism and black poverty in the country.

Addressing the Twelve Apostles of Christ Church in Umgababa‚ south of Durban, through a translator, Zuma said those who had taken to the streets to march had done so in defence of the status quo, TimesLIVE reported.

“Our people must be able to control‚ administer and enjoy the economy … now you must be removed because you are trying to make black people wiser.

“You saw the people in those marches‚ the type of people who have never marched before‚” Zuma said.

He said that until land was returned to black people‚ the poverty of the masses would continue unabated.

“The pain and rules of apartheid are still evidence as we are still not economically free.

“Let the land of the people go back to the people because that is the reason for poverty. We are saying that the economic power should be shifted to the people so everyone can enjoy it‚” he said.

He added: “The time of poverty among blacks must come to an end. Even if they remove the president who says this‚ the next one will do the same.

“If Zuma must leave because he is telling the truth. He cannot just walk away,” he said referring to himself in the third person‚ saying he would not step down.

“When I was in the struggle things were bad and I was facing death. Many people said we must stop. We were called terrorists for trying to fight the white man.”

According to the report, Zuma was greeted by a jubilant crowd of congregants at the church who rose in song for him.

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