Mac apologises; Malawi asks SA envoy to explain

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj has apologised to Malawians for the comments made by President Jacob Zuma on Monday night.

"I have received numerous calls from Malawians being angry and after long discussions, they come around and say, yes, let's not make a mountain of a molehill," Maharaj said yesterday.

"Let me apologise for that and withdraw it," he added.

Maharaj was speaking during an interview on Power FM during which he tried to explain the context of the statements made by Zuma at the Gauteng ANC's manifesto forum in Johannesburg .

The apology came as Malawi summoned South Africa's High Commissioner to explain Zuma's comments.

In a clip on the EyeWitness News website, Zuma is heard saying: "We can't think like Africans, in Africa, generally. We are in Johannesburg, this is Johannesburg. It's not some national road in Malawi."

Maharaj said Zuma was speaking in the context of two points on Gauteng freeways. He said these, however, did not come out in the reporting by the media.

"Our records are clear in that we are the champions of trying to get Africa to see itself as one and enter the global stage on a basis of equality with the rest of the players of the world economy," he said.

Malawi yesterday confirmed that High Commissioner Ntombile Mabude had been asked to explain Zuma's remarks.

Foreign ministry spokesman Quent Kalichero said Mabude was "summoned to discuss the issue".

The envoy held a meeting with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, George Mkondiwa, in the capital Lilongwe.