Just R2m to get up close with Zuma at ANC banquet
HIS popularity may be waning, but sharing a dinner table with ANC president Jacob Zuma is only for those with deep pockets.
Prominent businessmen and other VIPs seeking an intimate audience with the president had to cough up R2-million for their three-member delegations to secure space at Zuma’s table at the ANC’s gala dinner in Sandton last night, as part of its 105th birthday bash.
The ANC charged higher than usual prices for sharing a meal and hobnobbing with Zuma and other party bigwigs amid speculation that the party’s financial books are in the red.
The R2-million “official partner sponsorship package” secured three seats at Zuma’s table, six seats at another table, golf balls for eight players at a golf day and VIP accreditation for the ANC rally at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, today.
Details of the sponsorship packages for the ANC fundraising gala dinner were contained in a letter circulated by treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize in which he invites business people to book seats.
The ANC also hosted top business people, cabinet ministers, diplomats and senior civil servants at a fundraising golf day at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on Friday.
To secure three seats at the table of Zuma’s deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC charged R1.5-million, with more seats allocated at the buyer’s other preferred table.
It cost R700 000 to sit at tables occupied by the other top-six leaders of the ANC — secretarygeneral Gwede Mantashe, national chairwoman Baleka Mbete, Mkhize and deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte — under the “platinum sponsorship package”.
Those who preferred to dine with a premier or a cabinet minister had to fork out R400 000 for a seat.
“Request for a particular premier or minister is on a first come, first served basis,” read Mkhize’s invitation.
It cost the rich and powerful R300 000 to brush shoulders with ANC deployees who are executive mayors, and R150 000 to sit with deputy ministers or provincial MECs.
A ticket at an ordinary dinner table was sold for R20 000 and came with one VIP accreditation tag to the rally.
ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa declined to comment on the fundraising gala dinner.
Mkhize denied the R2-million price tag for Zuma’s table, but refused to say how much it cost.
“As a practice we do not publicise fundraising figures. People donate based on affordability and will. Seating arrangements are based on allocation made to the president’s table and other leaders’ tables by the preparatory team,” he said.