Zuma hailed at Shaka Day celebrations

African National Congress president Jacob Zuma received a rapturous welcome when he arrived at the annual King Shaka Day celebrations in KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger) on Wednesday.

Nearly 5 000 people turned out for the annual event hosted by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini.

According to the programme, Zuma was not scheduled to speak at the event—where, two years ago, he was chastised for making anti-gay comments.

There was a media frenzy as Zuma entered the Stanger sports grounds after the king and Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Zuma’s presence at the event follows his attendance at a memorial lecture for Gert Sibande in Secunda, Mpumalanga, on Tuesday evening, where he gave the assurance that the resignation of a third of the country’s Cabinet did not pose a crisis.—Sapa