Zuma's Day of Reckoning [The Natal Witness, 2005-11-12]

Publication: The Natal Witness Issued: Date: 2005-11-12 Reporter: Nivashni Nair Reporter:

Zuma's Day of Reckoning

Publication	The Natal Witness
Date	2005-11-12
Reporter	Nivashni Nair
Web Link	www.witness.co.za

The planned activities to support Jacob Zuma for his third court appearance got off to a slow start last night with supporters being divided between a R250-a-head party at Durban's beachfront and a night vigil outside the Durban Magistrate's Court.

While about 1 000 of the 10 000 expected supporters toyi-toyied outside the courthouse, local politicians and businessmen showed their solidarity to Zuma with a cocktail party where speakers called for a fair trial for Zuma.

From about 5 pm, small groups of supporters started to gather in Somtseu Road where police had sealed off the area between the courthouse and Stanger Street for the mass night vigil. At first, the street traders and African National Congress marshals outnumbered the supporters however by 8 pm, the crowd increased.

Earlier ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu told Weekend Witness that following the success of the night vigils before Zuma's previous court appearances, he expected no fewer than 10 000 supporters and had even arranged musical entertainment.

"This time we are prepared and have delegated marshals to deal with the crowds. People of South Africa will come out in full force to support Mr Zuma," he said.

Referring to the previous night vigil where supporters burnt T-shirts bearing President's Thabo Mbeki's picture to show their anger over his decision to axe Zuma, Mchunu said the party will not stand for any form of disrespect from supporters.

"We will take the necessary action to deal with those who commit such an act. Mr Zuma has asked people to show restraint and to show their support peacefully and we are asking the same. We have mobilised officials to speak to members all over the province," he said.

He said although the ANC is not paying for buses to transport supporters to the night vigil, he was confident that people "will find the means no matter what to support Zuma".

However, for some that did not seem to be the case.

One supporter said he also expected a larger crowd.

"On the previous two occasions it got busier at about midnight. Maybe that will be the case here as it is a whole night thing so maybe people will come later. But there is no transport as many of us used our own cars and we can only transport a few people. I heard reports of buses coming but I didn't see any," he said.

The ANC earlier reported that supporters from Stanger and the Midlands were to arrive in buses.

Although the police presence around the night vigil area was noticeable, there were no more than 50 police officers in sight.

Earlier South African Police Services spokesman Director Bala Naidoo said 350 police officers would be deployed in the area.

He said Stanger Street and Somtseu Road will be closed until Zuma appears in court today.

Zuma is expected to make his appearance at about 9.30 am at the Durban Magistrate's court, where he will be officially handed the indictment outlining the corruption charges against him.

He was implicated in Schabir Shaik's fraud and corruption trial when Judge Hillary Squires found that Shaik paid Zuma R1,2 million for his influence to secure deals for his Nkobi group.

Zuma is alleged to have also accepted an annual bribe of R500 000, which Shaik facilitated from French arms manufacturing company Thomson-CSF for Zuma's protection against a probe into the country's arms deal.

After his court appearance today, Zuma, KwaZulu-Natal Premier S'bu Ndebele and Transport MEC Bheki Cele are expected to attend a mass prayer meeting organised by the Durban Long Distance Taxi Association.

The association's secretary Patrick Nxumalo said Zuma is an invited guest and that the meeting is really about "thanking God of the end of taxi killings".

He said reports that a cow is being slaughtered in Zuma's honour are incorrect. "We are slaughtering one cow there and seven others somewhere else to say that God is great to reduce taxi violence," Nxumalo said.

Osborne Road and First Avenue will be closed for the prayer meeting.

With acknowledgements to Nivashni Nair and The Natal Witness.