Vigil, march and music planned for Zuma

WEDNESDAY JULY 25 2018 FAMILIAR faces and similar scenes from previous court appearances are expected on Friday when former president Jacob Zuma appears in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on charges of corruption, money-laundering and racketeering.

Church groups led by Bishop Bheki Ngcobo of the National Interfaith Council of SA (Nicsa) and Nicsa associate Bishop Vusi Dube will lead the pack in an all-night vigil planned for tomorrow.

A campaign calling itself #Wenzeni_ uZuma plans to mobilise Zuma’s followers ahead of his court appearance.

A motorcade and night vigil tomorrow will be followed by a walk to Dales Park in Pietermaritzburg and culminate in a march to the city court on Friday morning.

Outside court on Friday the church groups, Delangokubona Business Forum, the National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa, uMkhonto weSizwe veterans, Radical Economic Transformation champions, Black First Land First and other groups are expected to gather in numbers from early in the morning until after Zuma’s appearance, which is due to start at 9am.

The charges against Zuma relate to 783 payments, which it is claimed he received in connection with the controversial multibillion-rand arms deal.

The National Prosecuting Authority dropped the charges in 2009 just before Zuma was sworn in for his first term as the country’s president.

Zuma supporter and uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association spokesperson Carl Niehaus said events in support of Zuma had been planned for 24 hours before he was due to appear.

“It will all be very similar to the support shown in the previous court appearances. We will have a night vigil in Pietermaritzburg and a march and a rally outside court. Expect the big numbers as usual.”

Niehaus said that the night vigil would focus on prayer, entertainment from musicians and speeches by supporters of the former president.

‘IT WILL ALL BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE SUPPORT SHOWN IN THE PREVIOUS COURT APPEARANCES’