Jacob Zuma ‘slights’ Barack Obama
Jamal Osman
Africa Correspondent
A photo showing South African President Jacob Zuma remaining on the phone while greeting Barack Obama causes a stir in the press.
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Barack Obama is regarded as the most powerful man in the world.
But Jacob Zuma, the South African President, seems to have ignored the US leader. South African media has been reacting to the picture of President Zuma staying on the phone as he shook hands with President Obama. The US leader jokingly signals “you are on the phone?”
South Africa’s Online News24 asks: What would you do if the leader of the so-called free world approached you, hand stretched out and you were on the phone?
Times live asked its readers: Who’s more important to Zuma than Obama?
Some on social media asked Obama to respect his elder:
why is Obama interrupting someone during a call anyway? he’s the rude one.
— jiga ma jiga (@kitschisland) September 29, 2015
Barack Obama is not the president of the world.
If Jacob Zuma wants to take a call & keep Obama waiting, he can. and will. and did.
— Oh Ay Em (@MaS1banda) September 29, 2015
Others describe Zuma as a disgrace:
Manner less Jacob Zuma! You’re an embarrassment to Africa in general and to South Africa!! pic.twitter.com/ov5Lpavln5
— Dr Kiboi (@DrKiboi) September 29, 2015
Mr Zuma, who’s fighting political firestorms at home, may have been handling protests against corruption in his country.