South Africa’s best-known tannie (aunt), Evita Bezuidenhout, has been overwhelmed with messages of support and calls for more information since announcing plans to make herself available as a compromise choice for president of South Africa in 2009.
In a statement on Monday, the former ambassadress to Bapetikosweti and alter ego of comic Pieter Dirk-Uys, said she would host a press conference, with tea, coffee and koeksisters, to clarify her campaign position.
Questions needing an answer include which party she will represent, how it is possible for a middle-aged white Afrikaner gogo to become the democratically elected leader of a young African democracy and how many feet she will have to wash to become president.
”Unlike recent candidates for the presidency of the African National Congress and their immediate denials of intent, Tannie Evita will put her cards firmly on the table and prove that a little healthy humour can go a long way in paving the long political road to a balanced decision in 2009.”
She will also address concerns her apartheid background might stand in the way of her bid to head the country.
The media conference is set to take place at the M-Bar of the Metropole Hotel in Cape Town’s Long Street at 11am on Wednesday.
It is being held ahead of the official launch of the ”Evita for President” campaign at the Spier Summer Festival from January 25 to 28. — Sapa