Former ANC treasurer-general Dr. Mathews Phosa has strongly rejected allegations connecting former President Jacob Zuma to the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, calling such claims “unfounded and absurd.”
Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Phosa described the accusations as a politically motivated smear campaign designed to damage Zuma’s reputation. “It’s not Zuma who killed Gaddafi, please,” he stated firmly. “We must not rewrite history for political gain. The crisis in Libya was driven by foreign powers, not South African leadership.”
Gaddafi was killed in October 2011 during a NATO-backed uprising in Libya. At the time, Zuma chaired the African Union’s High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on Libya, which sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Some critics have accused South Africa of failing to protect Gaddafi, with a few even suggesting Zuma played a role in his downfall.
“It’s not Zuma who killed Gaddafi, please!” – Dr. Mathews Phosa
I asked Dr. Phosa a question when he launched his Witness To Power book at my UL campus and he was clear. As an envoy of Zuma to Gaddafi, he tells us how much they tried to save Gaddafi and his family from NATO. ✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/jjZUcDNJEH
— A Marxist-Leninist ★☭ (@Absolute_Kganki) May 23, 2025
Phosa dismissed these claims as “revisionist and dangerous,” stressing that South Africa had actively pursued diplomatic solutions. “Zuma and the AU delegation worked tirelessly to negotiate a peaceful settlement,” he said. “Western nations had already decided on military action, leaving South Africa with little influence over the outcome.”
He called on political figures and commentators to avoid spreading baseless theories that could fuel division or undermine South Africa’s diplomatic history. “The facts are clear—Zuma did not command NATO forces, nor did he order any attacks on Libya,” Phosa added.
The former treasurer-general also cautioned against exploiting international events for domestic political battles. “We must move beyond factional disputes and rumors. Leadership should be guided by truth, not propaganda,” he said.
His remarks come amid rising political tensions within the ANC and South Africa’s broader political scene, where Zuma remains a polarizing figure in both local and international debates. Phosa’s defense aligns with increasing calls within the ANC for unity and a more constructive political dialogue.
