Zuma fans drown out Gordhan speech at memorial

Durban – If there was one thing displayed at late struggle veteran Ahmed Kathrada’s memorial in Durban, it was a strong show of support for President Jacob Zuma by ANC Provincial members.

A tense hall at Sastri College saw keynote speaker, axed finance minister Pravin Gordhan and ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize, being booed during their speech causing interruptions during their talks.

They sang songs in praise of Zuma, echoing throughout the hall, drowning out Gordhan and Mkhize.

But when Gordhan spoke, he called ANC members ill-disci- plined for the behaviour they had displayed.

“We don’t know who disrupted whom there, everybody got disrupted. That’s very poor discipline on the part of ANC members,” Gordhan charged. “That’s not Kathrada’s ANC.” Asked if his message had been fully delivered, Gordhan replied: “Adequately.”

The hall began filling up with ANC members as early as 1pm, according to organisers, who added that they had arrived by 11am for the event scheduled for 3pm.

They had mostly filled the chairs on both levels

A number of people, of all spectres of the rainbow nation, who came to hear Gordhan speak had been turned away due to lack of space, while a tent just outside the hall was erected for others to watch the live feed.

Gordhan in his speech spoke of unity in the ANC. “Young people must have jobs, must get proper training. Young people must ensure that they grow.”

And if “we don’t work together we are not going to be able to achieve” what Kathrada wanted for this country, he added, amid talking and shouting from the crowd.

“Comrades, let’s hear each other. It’s my turn to talk, it’s your turn to listen for now,” he told attendees. “It’s a free country, but this is not respect. Everybody here spoke about unity in the ANC. Where is the unity?

“Anyone can make a nice deal today. Someone can pass on a bag of money, and we share the money, say we now have unity and we are not going to fight because we all have money. That’s not unity. Unity can’t be based on money.

“That is not Kathrada’s ANC. What we also want is an ANC that comrade Kathrada would say commits itself … to make sure young people have a different life.

“We agree on the kind of South Africa we want and people must have a better life,” he added.

The ANC Youth League had been granted attendance by a court ruling at the weekend to attend the memorial, but had to show good behaviour.

Kathrada, a year ago, penned a letter to Zuma asking for him to step down.