PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA'S FIGURATIVE EXPRESSION AMOUNTS TO NO BLASPHEMY

The African National Congress (ANC) fully agrees with President Jacob Zuma when - in his address to the people of the Eastern Cape, during the voter registration drive over the weekend - reiterated the fact that the ANC's exceptional track record, history and policies can only be equated to the goodness of Heaven. Contrary to views expressed by opposition parties, we neither see blasphemy no intimidation by the President Zuma's figurative expression (see Sunday Times report).

If, indeed, the use of the word Heaven in a figurative expression was deemed inappropriate by the South African society and the world at large, expressions such as "MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN", "HEAVENLY VOICES" and "SWEETS FROM HEAVEN" - to name a few - would not exist.

The figurative weekend expression by the President remains figurative and metaphoric. We are, therefore, in agreement with the President that not voting for the ANC is tantamount to throwing your vote in burning hell.

The alarm and the hullabaloo by African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille and others, over our President's metaphoric expression should be viewed as nothing else but "noises" that signify nothing.

South Africans - both black and white - fully understand the use of figurative expressions and the context is which our President used "Heaven or hell" in figuratively expressing himself over the weekend.

We are also of the view that those who are "alarmed" by his expression are probably driven by jealousy for not having thought of the expression themselves.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, February 6 2011

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