Zuma’s daughter defends his decision not to arrest former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has hit back at the DA for continually criticising the 2015 decision, saying it’s ignoring the complexities of Sudanese politics and Western influence.
MK Party member Duduzile Zuma. Picture: Jacques Nelles/ Eyewitness News.
CAPE TOWN - Former President Jacob Zuma’s daughter has come out in his defence in Parliament on Wednesday.
This is over a decision not to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2015.
A new member of Parliament (MP) for her father’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has hit back at the Democratic Alliance (DA) for continually criticising the decision, saying it’s ignoring the complexities of Sudanese politics and Western influence.
Zuma-Sambudla was speaking during a briefing by the Department of International Relations on South Africa’s ongoing role in the civil war in Sudan.
New Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said South Africa remains committed to ending conflicts on the continent that threaten instability for the region.
The DA’s Emma Powell said South Africa could have helped to stem the violence nine years ago if the former Sudanese leader was arrested during a visit to South Africa.
But Zuma-Sambudla said her father, the president at the time, did the right thing.
“President Zuma’s stance was rooted in protecting African sovereignty against external manipulation.”
She said the DA was ignoring the role of Western nations in African conflicts.
“The hypocrisy of the DA and the selective outrage over African leaders such as Jacob Zuma and Omar al-Bashir is very hypocritical.”
Zuma-Sambudla said her party is in favour of African solutions to African problems, including through BRICS (Brazil, Russian, India, China, and South Africa).