Zuma’s donation raises eyebrows
Duduzane Zuma’s student donation opens debate and exposes the plight of excluded students, writes Sihle Mavuso and Sifiso Mahlangu
IN JANUARY, Khetha Mjodi, a young Durban-based student contacted Duduzane Zuma, son of former president Jacob Zuma, to ask for assistance for his tertiary fees, and it is believed this prompted Zuma junior to dig deeper in his pocket.
Earlier this week, Duduzane Zuma divided the country when he offered financial assistance to students of the University of Kwazulu-natal (UKZN) who were excluded because of financial challenges.
As expected, the offer was welcomed by some and snubbed by others as Zuma junior’s source of wealth remains debatable. Some allege that he got his money through corrupt means as he was a long time business partner of the Gupta family who are at the centre of the ongoing state capture commission.
On the other side, there are those who feel that Zuma, like all other business persons, has the right to give money to a cause he believes in. Among those who welcomed Zuma’s kind gesture was the IFP Youth Brigade (IFPYB). The brigade’s secretary-general Mlungisi Mabaso said if the reports were true, Zuma’s offer was welcomed as he (Mabaso) had been personally inundated with calls from students for financial assistance.
“We know the challenges that NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) is facing, and we know that the department (of education) is struggling to implement free education that had been promised. So, if there is someone who is willing to help, why judge that person based on the allegation of where his money comes from,” said Mabaso.
On the other side, the Democratic Alliance Student Movement (DASO) rejected the money, calling it “dirty money”.
The leader of the movement, Siboniso Sibisi, claimed Zuma might have donated the money to the needy students in order to rehabilitate his reputation, which was tainted by his association with the Gupta family.
Sibisi insisted that while they understood the plight of the students, the source of the money should be questioned.
“We should first ask where the money came from, as we will never accept proceeds of corruption. We only welcome clean money,” Sibisi said.
The EFF Student Command had no qualms with the money. Its national spokesperson Xola Mehlomakhulu said: “We won’t ask him (Zuma) where he got the money because there are people who benefited from apartheid and they have not paid back a cent.”
SA Union of Students president Meshack Mugabe said: “We wish many other people would ensure that poor and needy students don’t go back home on the basis that they don’t have the money to study.”
DASO was not alone in questioning the sources of the money Zuma offered as the former minister of tourism,
Derek Hanekom, who served under Zuma junior’s father before the late 2017 fallout that saw him sacked as minister, also questioned it. Quoting a news article by Independent Online, Hanekom asked: “Ordinarily, to be welcomed. The question, in this case, is where that undisclosed amount of money come from (sic).”
Independent Media asked Hanekom if he had information to suggest that Zuma had “dirty money”, but he ignored our questions.
Asked for a response, Zuma told Independent Media he didn’t want to get involved in the “twitter war” concerning his donation. “I won’t say anything. My time to speak is coming. Let him say what he wants.”
Last year, Zuma appeared before the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of State Capture to address the allegation that he drove former deputy minister of finance Mcebisi Jonas to the Gupta house in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, where Jonas said one of the Gupta brothers offered him a ministerial position.
Zuma confirmed he drove Jonas to the house, but was unaware of any offer. Questions were also raised on why Jonas, without bodyguards or prior arrangements, would enter a car driven by Zuma to an unknown destination.
Zuma was also pushed into the headlines when a video went viral where he beseeched students to not burn buildings. In the Video Zuma says: “Let us protect infrastructure. I’ll come to you. We will speak”.
Independent Media is in possession of leaked minutes from a branch general meeting (BGM) held in the ethekwini region in KZN this week.
In the minutes, one Bhekisizwe Xulu gave a motion that Duduzane must be co-opted to become a member of the PEC (provincial executive committee) of KZN. The PEC is considered the highest decision making body in the province and deploys MEC s and mayors in the province.
If Zuma were co-opted, it would make him a heavy political player in the province. When asked, the region did not confirm or deny the minutes of said meeting.
Hanekom’s comments on the matter have again raised questions about
Zuma’s political game plans as it is believed that he may be gearing up for ‘silently’ running for a political position within the ANC.
The pledge, to some, was seen as a PR stunt meant to present himself as a compassionate person who understands the plight of the poor and perhaps is fit to lead them.
Further fuelling speculation that Zuma is eyeing a political office is that he is today set to appear as a “guest” at the Obuti Chika memorial lecture in Klerksdorp, North West. The lecture will be addressed by Supra Mahumapelo, one of Jacob Zuma’s most loyal backers.
Duduzane has previously raised his political profile by attending the party’s January 8 statement in Kimberley and the KZN ANC January 8 rally in Port Shepstone, where at the rallies, he gave out ANC T-shirts and took pictures with crowds.
Despite the hullabaloo over the source of the money, the gesture has opened up the old wounds of Fees Must Fall, a movement that advocated for free tertiary education.
During the UKZN protest that drew in Zuma, it was not only the money part that resembled the Fees Must Fall protests but all the destruction of property which he also condemned when he offered the money, reported to be around R2 million. This was as students engaged in clashes with security guards and destroyed university property.
As the Fees Must Fall issue continues to haunt universities, the Convocation Executive Committee of UKZN, a body representing the university alumni, led by Fanele Sibisi, came on board to join Zuma.
On Thursday, the board heeded the call for financial support made by the university and donated R1 million towards the 15% required for the registration fees from students.
Sibisi said it was lending support to the students after the call for all stakeholders to assist in the financial challenges currently facing the university with regard to the historical student debt and registration fees.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the current situation as it is calling for everyone to come together and contribute towards the solution in achieving a common goal.
“Against this and the plea from the Vice-chancellor and Principal, we as the Convocation Executive Committee of the University of Kwazulu-natal, are donating an amount of R1 million to assist some of the students who have not been in a position to register due to historical debts as well as unaffordability,” said Sibisi.
Asked if Duduzane was using the funding of students to “clean” himself, the Jacob Zuma Foundation said: “This foundation cannot claim to speak for Mr Duduzane Zuma. However, we commend him for standing up for the black child who is still deeply affected by the legacy of apartheid and all its financial structures.
“We must all do more to assist students who are financially excluded.”