Zuma Claims Rating Agencies Target SA because of BRICS

President Jacob Zuma addressed an enthusiastic ANC Cadres Forum Friday in Pietermaritzburg, announcing – amongst other things – that he will volunteer for the ANC when his term of office ends, that the people who accuse him of stealing “are the ones who steal”, and that the West are unhappy with BRICS.

Zuma admitted that the ANC is “facing a difficult situation”, but said they have before; and that they need to strengthen the ANC and work for the people.

The president said the state is supported by three pillars: political power, economic power and security.

“We have political, not economic power,” he told the ANC supporters. “There are people [referring to the opposition] who have economic power and buy people like buying a jacket.” Those people have something more powerful he said.

Once the ANC has achieved economic power, he promised, then the “country’s security is assured” and freedom will be complete.

According to translations on Twitter, Zuma said that currently, even though the ANC won the election, the opposition has the economic means to keep taking the ANC to court with “razor-sharp lawyers” compared to the ANC’s “not so sharp” lawyers.

Speaking of the rating agencies and the threat of SA’s credit ranking being downgraded to junk status, Zuma said South Africa is “attacked” because it joined BRICS and was instrumental in forming the Brics bank. This, he said, annoyed those who hate Brics and see the association of the five emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – as problematic and too powerful.

He said South Africa is a target because of its independence and that “we’ve never been to IMF/World Bank”. (Others blame allegations of Zuma being corrupt on the Rand’s dismal performance.)

Zuma spoke out on those “chanting Save South Africa”, saying “save it from what?”

He also criticised those ANC veterans who’ve suddenly arisen, unseen since 1994, to question his leadership.

Zuma said there are people in government who walk around with “mouse traps” to trap others, and also said many of the problems within the party are not isolated but that there is “another hand”.

The President said that when socialism ended people said it was the end of the Cold War… but that the countries that emerged as powers “were not our friends”. He said Western countries did not help the ANC during its struggle.

Zuma said it’s important for the ANC to be united, striving for the country’s wealth and “not be misled by personal wealth”.

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