Publication: Sunday Independent Issued: Date: 2005-11-13 Reporter: Nomfundo Mcetywa Reporter: Hlengiwe Khumalo

Zuma Supporters Sing Their Contempt for Mbeki

 

Publication 

Sunday Independent
Date

2005-11-13

Reporter

 Nomfundo Mcetywa,
Hlengiwe Khumalo

Web Link

www.sundayindependent.co.za

 

Even the presence of 150 marshalls could not stop the crowd supporting Jacob Zuma, the former deputy president, from singing rude songs at the all-night vigil outside the Durban magistrate's court on Friday.

Most songs expressed anger at President Thabo Mbeki's perceived interference in Zuma's path to the presidency.

Unlike last month's vigil - which was attended by S'bu Ndebele, the KwaZulu-Natal premier, MECs such as Zweli Mkhize, and Blade Nzimande, the general secretary of the South African Communist Party - there were no top politicians present.

Obed Mlaba, Durban's mayor, was one of the few local politicians who made a brief appearance, although he did not address the crowd

'Mbeki is not aware of the problems facing ordinary people'
.
Passersby could have easily mistaken the vigil for a street party, as people braaied and danced to music blaring from a sound system.

Halfway through the night, struggle songs made way for Durban kwaito artists T'zozo and Professor, who performed live to show their support for Zuma. Vendors supplied anything from food to ANC t-shirts and even political books.

Security was tight. Police searched people upon entry and 150 marshalls were deployed to ensure that no incidents, such as the burning of t-shirts with Mbeki's picture on them, took place, as they had at last month's vigil.

But the marshalls were unable to stop the crowd from singing derogatory songs *1, many of which were very insulting to Mbeki. When one marshall tried, a protester hit him. His fellow marshalls stopped him from returning the blow. And the protest songs continued.

"We were given strict instructions to ensure that no songs insulting Mbeki were to be sung," said one marshall.

Nhlakanipo Ntombela, the KwaZulu-Natal ANC Youth League chairperson, pleaded with the crowd to not sing insulting songs.

"The language that we use must show people that the people who support Zuma are disciplined people. Whatever we do, we must do it with respect to all ANC members."

Supporters blew vuvuzelas and chanted songs questioning why Zuma was fired. Other songs said that Zuma had been sold out because of a capitalist agenda.

Zuma's supporters questioned how Mbeki had handled the former deputy president's case, and how he had filled Zuma's post with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the wife of Bulelani Ngcuka, the former Scorpions boss.

Duduzile Makhanya, 51, and Nokuzama Langa, 50, from Folweni in Umbumbulu, said they supported Zuma because he had fought for the houses in which they now live.

"That is why we have decided to sacrifice our sleep tonight and come to show our support for this man, because has done so much for us.

"Zuma is not guilty, even God knows *2 that all these allegations against him are not true. We are here for him, we are willing to stay here until the morning," said Makhanya.

Linda Khumalo from Umlazi said Mbeki was brilliant and that he liked the way that he thinks.

"The only problem is that he doesn't relate to normal South Africans. I don't think he's aware of the problems that South Africans are faced with, he's bringing the ideologies which he learnt while studying abroad. These ideologies don't really apply to the normal man on the street.

"Zuma knows the struggle that we went through *3 and he has a better understanding of South Africans and their needs."

Thamsanqa Zuma from Umlazi said that he had to borrow money for bus fare from his mother to get to the vigil.

"I had to come to my president's vigil no matter what. It was Zuma's turn to become president, now they are just coming up with excuses to oust him, but we are here to pray for him.

Eliza Moore, a Canadian who lives in South Africa, said she had come out to support Zuma as she felt he was one of the few leaders who could reconcile the continent.

"I think that he is a very strong leader. If I could vote for him I would."

Vendors came from far and wide to sell their wares at the vigil. Thapelo Moloi came from Johannesburg to sell ANC t-shirts and books.

"At the last vigil a guy told me to bring political books as people are interested in them," he said. The books on display were mostly on political theory and ideology.

Vendor Thami Matthews from Johannesburg said he had travelled for 12 hours by train to get to Durban.

"I was at the last vigil and, although we didn't really sell a lot, at least I get to be a part of this. I am pro-Zuma and I like what he stands for. I will definitely come to the next vigil too."

At about 4am a column of chanting and singing supporters marched towards town, disrupting early morning traffic. The marchers eventually made their way peacefully back to the vigil.

With acknowledgements to Nomfundo Mcetywa, Hlengiwe Khumalo and the Sunday Independent.


*1  So much for their falling idol's request for constraint, but :
"The bitterness in the breasts of many, including probably Zuma's, is about all those who also collected very handsomely and are walking around smiling and talking about the rule of law."
Jeremy Gordin, Saturday Argus : http://capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=1367&fArticleId=2991685

But, just because Mbeki met secretly with Jean-Paul Perrier, Bernard Charles Aymard Andre Paris de Bollardiere and Michel Denis of Thomson-CSF on 17 December 1998, in order to facilitate the very handsome collection by some of those among us, there's no reason to insult his close relatives.

Only human trash would do this.

*2  Surely God is the first to know.

*3  If the likes stopped ripping off the country by between R150 billion and R200 billion per year, there'd be very little to struggle over.

And it's not only the PAIs (Presently Advantaged Individuals) who are doing it. It has been estimated that between about 1974 and 1988 that the other PAIs (Previously Advantaged Individuals) ripped off the country to a tune of about R350 billion in late '80s values (which is probably equivalent to the present yearly leakage).

The torture never stops.

*4  Bumiputera, vaselined-up friends, interest-free non-repayable loans, instrument technicians with dodgy academic credentials for financial advisor, opticians with dodgy political credentials for tactical advisors, chiefs of acquisition with dodgy conflict of interest recusals for something or other, Cuban-trained lawyers ill-trained in MS-Word for Windows or the basic capabilities of making and filing important client Loan Agreements, some occult equity in Nkobi Holdings, The French, Thomson-CSF in particular, R1 million bale-outs from Madiba (who didn't used to be so wealthy), Mercs for self and wife, polygamy, offspring too numerous to support on employer's salary, private schools, machine guns, black bullet-proof Humvees, free subcontinental air travel, use of military air bases to avoid customs and other irksome formalities, the diplomatic post bag, expensive homes in Johannesburg's northern suburbs, private villages in rural Zululand, expensive imported Italian suits from Cassanovas, rounds with Robin, late night AIDS activists?