Durban group accepts Zuma's apology

Jacob Zuma, the ANC deputy president

As Jacob Zuma, the ANC deputy president, apologised yesterday to the South African gay and lesbian community over his remarks made at recent Heritage Day celebrations, a Zimbabwean organisation expressed horror at his statements.

Back home, the Durban Lesbian and Gay Centre and Behind the Mask organisations have accepted Zuma's apology for apparently making homophobic statements.

"Now we look forward to Mr Zuma's support for same-sex marriages," said Nonhlanhla Mkhize, the Durban organisation's director. Mike Goddard, director of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (Galz), in a statement released yesterday, said: "Such utterances may be run of the mill for the likes of national leaders, such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, but are startling when they emanate from a South African statesman."

Durban-based Mkhize said: "We look forward to Zuma and all other South African leaders leading our people within a culture that proposed the respect of diversity. However, the organisations questioned how one could misinterpret a comment that "same-sex marriages are a disgrace to the nation and to God".

Cannot use culture to oppress
"How does this display his respect and commitment to uphold South Africa constitutional values? We cannot use culture to oppress, but must use it to protect and promote our freedom." Goddard added that people living under difficult circumstances, as existed in his country and elsewhere in Africa, had become increasingly alarmed by the wild behaviour and utterances of Zuma which continue to go unchecked.

Speaking during the ceremonies on Sunday, Zuma said: "When I was growing up an ungqingili (a gay) would not have stood in front of me. I would knock him out."

However, in his statement released yesterday, Zuma said he had noted his remarks at the Shaka Day commemoration in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday had been interpreted in various ways, and might have hurt and angered the gay and lesbian community.

The remarks were made in the context of the traditional way of raising children, he said. However, in his statement he said he had commented in particular about the manner in which communities tended to neglect boys and over-emphasise the traditional upbringing of girls, as evidenced in ceremonies such as the reed dance.

"I apologise unreservedly"
"I said the communal upbringig of children in the past was able to assist parents to notice children with a different social orientation. I, however, did not intend to have this interpreted as a condemnation of gays and lesbians."

The Constitution clearly stated that nobody should be discriminated against on any grounds, including sexual orientation, and be upheld and abided by the Constitution, Zuma said. "Our lesbian and gay compatriots are protected by the Constitution and I respect their rights, in my capacity as an individual citizen and as a member and one of the leaders of the ANC.”

"I apologise unreservedly for the pain and anger that my remarks may have caused," Zuma said. - Sapa