Zuma to host Christmas parties – and promote chess

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has started his holiday programme by travelling to his home village of Nkandla – his habit over the festive season.

The president would share some of his time with the elderly and on his favourite initiative – promoting the game of chess‚ his office said.

“As an avid chess player and promoter of the sport‚ President Zuma believes that if chess is rolled out in schools‚ it would teach children key strategic thinking and they would excel in these strategies and tactics as adults‚” the Presidency said.

The annual chess tournament takes place today at Mandeni‚ in the north of KwaZulu-Natal.

On Saturday‚ Christmas Eve, Zuma will attend the annual Christmas Party for Senior Citizens, at Savanna Park, Chatsworth, in Durban.

The Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party will take place on December 27 at the Mnyakanya Secondary School Sports Ground in Nkandla.

On December 29‚ the president will host the popular Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust Youth and Children Christmas Party.

The presidency said this children’s party attracted thousands of people each year‚ not only from Nkandla but all over South Africa.

It celebrated the successes of young people who had been offered bursaries and other financial assistance by the Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust to study at various tertiary institutions around the country.

Zuma would remain in charge of the country and could hold meetings at his Nkandla home on urgent state matters‚ his office said. – TMG Digital