Nkandla army’s diet of cardio, cow and cannabis
With Thursday’s temperature hitting 34°C, the Umkhonto weSizwe veterans guarding Jacob Zuma at Nkandla probably yearned for a dip in the firepool.
Their barracks is a marquee on Ingonyama Trust land next to an Nkandla guardhouse. For the benefit of the media, they perform drills on the tar road running past the homestead. It’s thirsty work, this guard duty.
The media gathered for the arrival of police minister Bheki Cele. About 30 veterans drilled and sang. They appeared ominous — and comical.
Since a week before, they have been here, listening to tinny maskandi music from car speakers and wandering across the road from where the aroma of dagga rises.
Cele’s convoy, which included police, was stopped by the veterans.
Cele was the third high-profile arrival at Nkandla. He and Zuma exchanged wide grins. Zuma was dressed in his favourite floral black shirt, worn on so many occasions that it has become the subject of a social media challenge.
Cele was uncharacteristically media-shy, but a Zuma daughter, Duduzile, tweeted about the mood and the lack of ntingwe (Zulu tea) served at the meeting.
During the meeting, the veterans retreated to the shade of the open marquee and chugged bottles of water and Coke.
“Nobody will enter without our permission. Bheki Cele or not, we are here for Zuma’s defence. He [Cele] has bodyguards. So they had to ask permission from Zuma’s men to enter. We know him and he knows us. He is a comrade but he is not working with us,” veteran Mduduzi Mkhize told the Sunday Times.
Mkhize, 56, said he was a “seasoned soldier” who had fought with Zuma in the guerilla war in Angola.
“He is a survivor like myself. He is a leader. Not as educated as we think, but he is a leader. That’s why I’m prepared to die for him. The revolution is not for the educated. It is for peasants — the poorest of the poor.”
Much like the other veterans, the willingness to protect Zuma at all costs is not uncommon in this part of the world.
A mobile cold room — with “Emabheleni Cold Rooms for hire” on its faded sign — is parked a short way from where the guard tent is pitched. Mlungisi Mbhele, a neighbouring farmer, said the veterans asked for help. “So I gave them a cow to slaughter and a cold room to use for as long as they need. I said it is a pity I am unable to be with them at KwaDakwadunuse [Nkandla], not only as a neighbour but as an ANC supporter.”
Mkhize said the veterans had received a great deal of hospitality from the Zuma family and the local amakhosi.
“Although the Zuma family has provided some food, we also brought and make our own. The amakhosi gifted us with cattle to slaughter and eat — and in isiZulu we say that uma sekufike amakhosi, nesizwe sonke sesifikile [when the king arrives, the whole valley has arrived]. We will eat four goats when we leave.
“We didn’t bring guns. However, we are all soldiers, and a soldier does not use his punches.”
The veterans say they will stay until Zuma is no longer under threat. “We will follow him until the last day,” said Mkhize. They will be with him at his next court appearance in Pietermaritzburg to protect him — or when the cameras start rolling again.