Happy birthday, dear Zuma -- but who's paying?
Hush-hush preparations are under way for a lavish birthday banquet this week for Jacob Zuma, the Daily News reported on Wednesday.
It said more than 1Â 000 people have been invited to celebrate the 65th birthday of the African National Congress (ANC) deputy president at Durban’s International Convention Centre on Friday.
The guest list includes senior personalities of the ANC Youth League, Congress of South African Trade Unions and ANC Women’s League.
Many of the ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal leadership are also expected to attend. Busloads of senior political and social supporters are expected to enjoy a meal and live entertainment.
Questions are now being asked in political circles about who is funding and organising the costly affair, expected to cost several hundred thousand rand.
A massive R15Â 000 birthday cake, to be provided by the Baking Pan bakery in Durban, will be the centrepiece of the evening.
People speaking for the various factions of the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust gave conflicting reports on who is hosting the party.
Trust spokesperson Kaizer Mohau said: “Fund-raising will be central to the event, but I’m awaiting a report with the final details as to what our actual plan is.”
Trust chairperson Don Mkhwanazi said the Zuma family is hosting the function. “The trust’s mandate is to gather funds and not organise the party. The family is organising it,” he said.—Sapa
