Bloemfontein abuzz but president misses out
Confusion and incorrect communication keep Zuma from masses
DIARY confusion and miscommunication were the reasons why President Jacob Zuma failed to appear for scheduled walkabouts, meetings and door-todoor visits in and around Bloemfontein yesterday, his spokesman, Mac Maharaj, said last night.
Zuma jetted into Bloemfontein at about 5pm yesterday, unaware he had inadvertently snubbed provincial ANC organisers and residents of Thaba Nchu, a town east of the Free State capital, and its Botshabelo township. He was expected to do a walkabout and meet-and-greet for an hour in Botshabelo this morning and visit various points in Bloemfontein this afternoon.
“The overwhelming sense of pride is with us as I arrive to join (the) masses and leaders of the ANC in Mangaung ahead of the centenary celebrations,” a tweet from @Sapresident said just after 5pm.
While Zuma was making his way from Durban, the young man regarded as his nemesis, Julius Malema, was exhorting a crowd said to be thousands strong, and gathered in Welkom, two hours away by road, to rally behind the ANC.
The ANC Youth League leader urged his rapt audience to make their way to Bloemfontein for the ANC’S January 8 rally on Sunday, where Zuma will speak at the culmination of the party’s 100th birthday bash.
Those who attended the rally – organised by the league – said Malema had referred to “rumours” he had heard of plans to disrupt proceedings, and had told the crowd not to do it in his name.
Malema and the league have been denied an official slot in this weekend’s proceedings. Organisers decided that no messages of support at all would be delivered by any of the party’s leagues or its allies, Cosatu and the SACP.
Some show of discontent with Zuma – who the league wants replaced by his party deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, when the party returns to Mangaung to elect a new leadership in December – can still not be ruled out.
The Star understands that handling the logistics and protocol of the 46 heads of state due to start arriving today with their entourages has proved particularly challenging. Zuma had received many requests for meetings from visiting heads of state, Maharaj confirmed.
Police officers, emergency service personnel, caterers, journalists and ANC members seeking accreditation sweltered in 35°C heat during a painstakingly slow accreditation process that has become a feature of major ANC events – some taking three hours to be processed by staff who started work at 7am and were set to finish at 9pm.
Marquees were still being draped in the party’s black, gold and green colours and there were ongoing rehearsals of the 100-minute rendition of the ANC’S history in song and dance performance “Tshihumbudzo” (a Tshivenda word meaning “remembrance”).
Lots of green plastic portable toilets lined one of the streets around the Free State Stadium. Workers from the Mangaung metro were cutting verges, repainting the white lines at key road intersections and collecting refuse.
Workers brought in to assist with the activities over the next three days were still waiting for clarity on how many hours they will work. Co-ordinators were locked in a boardroom at the University of the Free State for a briefing by ANC officials and were expected to brief workers later in the evening.
Police from Kimberley and Welkom arrived to be part of the heavy security presence to protect not only the 46 heads of state and other dignitaries, but also the 100 000 people expected to attend the rally.