‘I Am Not Going Anywhere’: Jacob Zuma Says He Still Has Work To Do For South Africa
Former South African president Jacob Zuma has declared that he intends to remain active because he believes there is still work to be done to improve the country.
The 84-year-old made the remarks during the relaunch of the Jacob Gedleyihlekisa (JG) Zuma Foundation in Durban over the weekend, where he reflected on South Africa’s past and the challenges facing the country.
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Zuma Reflects On South Africa’s Past
Zuma said he regularly thinks about the injustices experienced by previous generations and questioned whether those who fought for change could simply walk away while the country still faces challenges.
He told those gathered at the event that he had no intention of leaving the scene, saying he still had time to contribute to South Africa.
“How can we depart and leave this country in these conditions? I always say to myself, I am not going anywhere; I will remain right where I am,” Zuma said.
Calls For Unity Among Black South Africans
The former president also spoke about the experiences of black South Africans and called for greater unity among them.
Zuma said previous generations had endured significant hardships but maintained that black South Africans had made progress compared with those who came before them.
He attributed his political consciousness partly to his upbringing in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, where he said he grew up hearing accounts of historical conflicts involving colonial forces.
Zuma recalled elderly people in his community telling young people stories about the wars that had taken place in the area.
Education Remains A Priority
Zuma also reflected on his own education, saying the socio-economic circumstances of his childhood prevented him from completing his schooling during apartheid.
Despite not being able to finish his education, he said the experience strengthened his determination to see black children gain access to education.
He recalled efforts to keep children in school during periods of political violence and tension between the African National Congress (ANC) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in KwaZulu-Natal.
“I really wanted our people to become educated because the white people had the money,” he said.
Zuma said his commitment to educating black children has continued over the years.