Stadium overfilled as Zuma speaks

SEVERAL ANC members who braved the wet weather missed President Jacob Zuma’s speech as Orlando Stadium could only take 40 000 seated people.

As more members came in, the ANC had to open the pitch to allow some to gain access to the field, while others were not so lucky.

Because of the weather, Zuma had to read an edited version of the January statement while alliance partners Cosatu, SACP and Sanco had to deliver their messages of support after the president had spoken. The rain stopped during the speech, but started pouring soon after the formal proceedings ended.

An ANC Women’s League member expressed disappointment after missing what was possibly Zuma’s last speech as leader of the party.

Gaining entry into the stadium 20 minutes after Zuma had spoken, Zama Mnguni of Tshwane said she wasn’t impressed with the way law enforcement agencies controlled traffic into the stadium.

“We were hoping to hear the speech of the president but we were unable to because the stadium was too full and couldn’t accommodate so many of us. It took us two hours just to find parking thus resulting in us missing his entire speech.

“We were hoping to hear the president reflect on what he has done in his past two terms, what [he] has achieved and what the future holds for us as members of the ANC, but I believe he mentioned all of that so we shall hear from the media,” said Mnguni.

Keith Maphutha, an ANCYL member from Alexander, said what he liked about the president’s speech was the part about transforming the economy by restructuring the manufacturing industry.