South Africa’s Deputy President Jacob Zuma went on the campaign trail in Cape Town on Thursday, and immediately came face-to-face with some of the harsh realities of South African society.
Zuma led an African National Congress delegation handing out election pamphlets to commuters at Cape Town’s central station, when he was confronted by a jobless ex-convict.
Amid a phalanx of bodyguards and curious crowds surrounding Zuma, Glenville Tempies (23) of Paarl tried to sell the deputy president a pair of sunglasses, which he said he had just stolen from someone.
Somewhat taken aback, Zuma declined the offer and asked why.
Tempies said he had spent three years in prison in Grahamstown for robbery, and had attended various rehabilitation programmes and initiatives to gain work skills. He had succeeded and even obtained ”diplomas”.
”I even met [President Thabo] Mbeki and Prince Edward [of Britain] and his wife,” he said.
Tempies said he had been promised a job on his release, but nothing had happened and he was still out of work.
”Now, sometimes I have to rob (to survive).”
Looking around, Zuma said: ”I think someone must take your details.”
Tempies then gave his name and a contact number to ANC MP Zoliswa Kota, who was with Zuma.
As the deputy president was whisked away in his car on the next leg of his campaign, Tempies was asked whether he expected anything to come of it.
”I don’t know if they’ll come back to me,” he replied, indicating he might have to rob again.
Earlier, as Zuma arrived at the station and walked around inside, a crowd of curious onlookers quickly gathered around him. Bodyguards had their hands full as people pressed forward to shake his hand, ask for autographs, and chat to him, some also complaining of not having any work.
A few even called him ”deputy minister”.
Others were more curious than anything else, with one young woman asking ”whose that?” Her companion replied: ”Who? The short guy with the glasses on? Oh, he’s the deputy president.” She giggled as they moved on.
Most of the early morning commuters, clearly apolitical, simply took pamphlets, glanced at them, and discarded them on the ground as they went about buying food and drinks from vendors and hurrying off to work.
Others queued for a quick haircut at a barber’s kiosk, while an aspiring musician, oblivious to all, strolled by playing his guitar.
Zuma was scheduled to continue his campaign on Wednesday with visits to Mitchell’s Plain, Khayelitsha, District Six, and Wesbank. – Sapa