Top 65 Quotes & Sayings by Jacob Zuma

I have fought corruption.

None of us, no matter how perfect, can claim that the building of a new society and the marshalling of a former liberation movement into a modern political party all happen in a straight line.

As a citizen of this country, I've got to be honest to the people of South Africa.

In government, things do not move too quick. That is why I am trying to introduce a new culture: so that things move more quickly.

I am forever indebted to the ANC, the liberation movement I have served almost all my life.

I don't think, in a country, you can have people thinking and feeling exactly the same.

Criminality is always the result of poverty. Countries that experience such a fundamental change as we have - we had the apartheid regime and must now develop a multicultural democracy - must necessarily pass through a phase of high crime rates.

We South Africans are also crazy about football, so the World Cup can be nothing but successful.

If you grow the economy, then you become stronger, and you can resist many other things.

There is no cloud above my head - there is not even a mist.

If we avail ourselves to serve in terms of the Constitution, we should be prepared if, indeed, those we serve deem it appropriate to suffer the hardship that comes with our constitutional obligations.

My love of South Africa is not gray; it's not vague. It's very specific. It's in keeping with our Constitution - 'Unity in diversity.'

I just accept that, if my party and my compatriots wish that I be removed from office, they must exercise that right and do so in the manner prescribed in the Constitution.

The economy in South Africa was racially structured for many decades, if not centuries.

Our people are frustrated when we spend more time fighting among ourselves than focusing on solving the day-to-day challenges they experience.

Judgments that give an impression that we can disregard the Constitution for political expediency, or to solve what we regard as current problems, set a dangerous precedence which will make it difficult to govern in future or to make ordinary citizens to abide by the Constitution.

We are a constitutional democracy. We must deal with things properly within the framework of the law and then the constitution.

In no country are all the people factory owners. The majority are workers.

My view is instead of political discussions, persuasions, which dominate democracy, in our country we have taken our democracy to the other extreme. There is no debate, sufficient debate. There is court debate.

The youth of the ANC, ever since 1944 when it was established, has been very vocal. It has made suggestions on things so that, at times, old people said, 'What are you doing?' That is its nature. Alliance partners, they have always raised issues. In fact, that is what brings vibrancy in the alliance. People misread that as huge fights.

We have a history in South Africa of an entrenched white monopoly capital.

You don't just end up with freedom when you have the vote. The struggle continues.

Theft and corruption in the private sector is as bad as that in government and must be dealt with decisively by law enforcement agencies.

The majority in this country have not seen anything wrong with Zuma. I go with the overwhelming feeling of this country. If the majority say, 'Zuma, do this,' I will do it.

All my life, I have served and will continue to serve the ANC in its pursuit of the objectives of the National Democratic Revolution.

I'm a very honest politician.

Africa suffered under European dominance for centuries.

I fear no motion of no confidence or impeachment, for they are the lawful mechanisms for the people of this beautiful country to remove their president.

People are constantly applying double standards. Take the United States, for example. Washington wants the whole world to admire the country for its democracy. Then the government sends out its army, in the name of this democracy, and leaves behind the kind of chaos we see in Iraq.

I do take seriously and am grateful to the ANC that, in the face of its revolutionary mission to ensure a better life for all and the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa, it deployed me at the pinnacle of its role in government.

Radical socio-economic transformation is a policy of the ANC. As a leader of the ANC, you have to implement the policy. When I talk about radical socio-economic transformation, it's not my thing; it's an ANC policy.

When I joined the ANC, I never thought I would be anything. In no way, did I say, 'One day I could be the president. I think I am good material for the presidency.' Not at all.

God expects the ANC to rule this country because we are the only organisation which was blessed by pastors when it was formed. It is even blessed in Heaven. That is why we will rule until Jesus comes back. We should not allow anyone to govern our city [Cape Town] when we are ruling the country.

Jan van Riebeeck's arrival in Cape Town was the beginning of all South Africa's problems.

...having a member who serves in the Government and who also belongs to the structures of the party does not retard this particular objective the separation of party and state. It does not.

Once we have the infrastructure in Africa, it should not be blocked by borders.

African problems should have African solutions.

Me? Well, I don't know, I must go to a dictionary and learn what a crook is. I've never been a crook.

Same sex marriage is a disgrace to the nation and to God. When I was growing up, ‘ungqingili’ [homosexuals in isiZulu] could not stand in front of me, I would knock him out.

The ANC is more important than the Constitution.

Africa has decided to take matters of instability into its own hands.

...The people love him. So how can we condemn him?

There is not a single country in the world that is not interested in doing business with China. And no one is seriously concerned about human rights. But Africans are criticized for wanting to do business with China.

You have fewer rights because you are a minority. Absolutely, that’s how democracy works.

The ANC will rule South Africa until Jesus comes back.

We want to eradicate all mud schools. We are already doing so. We are not in a hurry because no one is going to rule but the ANC.

Those who vote for the ANC will be blessed on earth and heaven

We're not forcing people... you can support and be a supporter, but if you go beyond that and become a member, [and] if you're a businessman, your business will multiply... Everything you touch will multiply. I've always said that a wise businessperson will support the ANC... because supporting the ANC means you're investing very well in your business.

The ancestors will turn their backs against you and you will have bad luck forever if you leave the ANC unhappy

A shower would minimise the risk of contracting the disease.

Even if you apply any kind of lotion and straighten your hair you will never be white.

What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.

The Constitution is only there to regulate matters.

People tend to try to find something to talk about Zuma. My surname is very nice and simple. Very simple, so they like pronouncing it all the time. So what's the problem?

Something has gone wrong with Ronnie... He wasn't like that before. I don't know what went wrong with him.

That is a debatable point, whether South Africans are xenophobic. I don't you'd have the numbers that you have of foreigners if South Africa was xenophobic.

Aid should shift to investment. This will help countries stand on their own.

We have noted the appeal of Honorable Ambrosini about the decriminalizing of marijuana for medical use.

It is wrong to leave the ANC, in fact, it is cold and rough outside the ANC. People must remain in the party and try to fix things internally because those who do leave they will attract the wrath of the ancestors, who will also bring that person bad luck

It's just a figment of the imagination.