‘Zuma going nowhere, we love him’
Supporters bused in to sing praises at state event
A government event where President Jacob Zuma delivered a keynote address in Westonaria on the West Rand yesterday, could have been confused for an ANC rally.
This became evident after most of the people who were bused in wore ANC T-shirts bearing the face of Zuma. They sang Struggle songs in support of Zuma.
Zuma’s die-hard supporters Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen were also in attendance at an event meant to be a presidential visit to Westonaria agri-park site.
The agri-parks programme has become the cornerstone of the government’s priority to revitalise agriculture and agroprocessing value chain.
An ANC member Rebecca Mosia of Bekkersdal, said they wanted to show Zuma that they loved him.
“He is going nowhere,” Mosia said. “We love him as the president of this country.”
Another party member Queen Molosiwa of Mohlakeng said she hoped Zuma would continue to do good things for the country.
However, in his keynote address Zuma said many countries looked up to South Africa to give a lead on a number of issues, including agriculture.
His remarks come in the light of downgrading of South Africa to a junk status by two ratings agencies.
“The cabbage price is going to be determined here. We will never go wrong with agriculture,” he said. Zuma reiterated that apartheid spatial exclusion of rural areas still mars the country’s landscape today.
“Our rural communities sadly remain the most excluded from participation in the country’s economy and were the most food-insecure portion of the population.”
Zuma said the agri-parks programme was also about fast-tracking land reform.
“Through the agri-parks programme we want to bring 300 000 new smallholder farmers into the agriculture sector and to create 145 000 new agro-processing jobs.
“It is also aimed at bringing one million hectares of land into production.”
“Agri-parks programme aims to create 145 000 agri-processing jobs”