Home » President Zuma’s Birthday Dampened by Sad Passing of Ontlametse Phalatse

President Zuma’s Birthday Dampened by Sad Passing of Ontlametse Phalatse

The Presidency says President Jacob Zuma’s birthday today, 12 April 2017, has been dampened by the sad death of Ontlametse Phalatse, the teenager who had been living with a rare genetic disorder Progeria, which causes rapid ageing. Ontlametse ticked off one of her goals in life a couple of weeks ago when she met President Zuma […]

By SAPeople
12-04-17 10:48
in Eish!

The Presidency says President Jacob Zuma’s birthday today, 12 April 2017, has been dampened by the sad death of Ontlametse Phalatse, the teenager who had been living with a rare genetic disorder Progeria, which causes rapid ageing.

President Zuma helped Ontlametse cut her birthday cake when they met a couple of weeks ago. Source: GCIS

Ontlametse ticked off one of her goals in life a couple of weeks ago when she met President Zuma for her 18th birthday celebrations.

The young woman, who touched so many people in her short life, had been invited by Zuma to attend his 75th birthday celebration later this month.

The Presidency said today that Ontlametse had been happy that Zuma shared his birthday with her mother Bellone Ontlametse. (He also shares it with his nemesis, former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who turns 68 today.)

In a statement Wednesday, the Presidency said: “The President’s birthday has been dampened by the death of Ontlametse Phalatse, a brave young fighter who didn’t allow the disease Progeria to limit her life.”

Ontlametse’s other dreams had been for her mother to get a better home, and a car.

No mention was made in today’s statement of the National Day of Action marches being held by opposition parties which have united against him.

The President’s birthday wish is apparently to see more progress being made in building a better life for the poor and the working class.

“I would like to see us making more progress in fighting poverty and inequality. We need to make progress in black economic empowerment to promote true economic freedom.

“I also wish to see us winning the battle against racism in our country,” President Zuma said.

“My wish is also to see more citizens working with the police and government to rid our communities of crime and building safer communities,” he said.

While South Africans march against him today, Zuma will spend the morning holding meetins with Ministers and later join the ANC for a celebration rally in Soweto.

He is also preparing for a special cabinet meeting to discuss the current economic situation in the country with a view to uniting stakeholders and the whole country towards finding solutions as was done when the first economic crisis set in around 2008, which has hardly subsided during his two terms of office.

The statement said this has been exacerbated by the recent sovereign credit downgrades.

“Working together we will find solutions,” said President Zuma.

–SAnews.gov.za

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