Former president Jacob Zuma drew ire from social media when, on Sunday, he reiterated his support of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.
Jacob Zuma supports Russia’s attack on Ukraine
The former head of state, whose tenure in retirement has been marred by ongoing court battles, claimed “it would be remiss of him not to exercise his constitutionally enshrined [right to] freedom of expression and share his thoughts on the developments in Russia and Ukraine conflict.”
Much like China, South Africa opted to abstain from a recent United Nations (UN) vote on Russia’s aggression. After all, SA is a member of BRICS, thanks, in part, to Zuma, who oversaw the membership during his tenure as president.
It’s no secret Zuma holds President Vladimir Putin to high regard. The man was reportedly trained by the Soviet Union during apartheid, and thus, at a time when the world has its back turned against the leader of The Kremlin, it was a no-brainer which side of the moral paradox Zuma stood.
“His excellency President Vladimir Putin has been very patient with the western forces. He has been crystal clear about his opposition of the eastern expansion of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) into Ukraine, among other areas, and is on record about the military threat posed to Russia by the presence of these forces; if allowed to be on his doorstep,” the Jacob Zuma Foundation noted.
Zuma further lambasted ‘western forces’ as the chief instigators behind the destabilisation of political leadership structures in various regions, including the Middle East and South America.
He also chalked his booting from power up to “western forces using their forces that they are in control of within some structures of our gorvernment; and some that they control in the ruling party.”
Of course, according to Zuma, his exit from the president’s office had absolutely nothing to do with his long rap sheet involving rampant corruption and the plundering of state funds and enterprises.
“Russia, a BRICS member country is now in the crosshairs of the bullies. Ukraine is being used basically as a front, so that Russia can be brought to its knees through unjustifiable sanctions,” the foundation added.
The tone from the department of international relations was more impartial. Minister Naledi Pandor called on the two countries to find a more amicable way to deal with the differences that, thus far, have culminated in the deaths of at least 364 civilians.