Hundreds of people converged on Durban’s International Convention Centre on Friday night for the 65th birthday of African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma.
The who’s who of KwaZulu-Natal political circles were present at what promised to be a glittering event. Those attending included South African Communist Party (SACP) secretary general Blade Nzimande and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi.
Media reports earlier this week said Zuma’s birthday cake cost an estimated R15 000 to make. The three-metre long cake was admired briefly before Zuma made his entrance to rousing cheers.
Zuma was accompanied by his wife Sizakhele and his immediate family. There was a media frenzy as photographers clamoured to get pictures.
Security at the International Convention Centre was tight.
The ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal secretary general Senzo Mchunu said: ”It is important that we confirm he is our deputy president. That is why we are here.”
Mchunu called on all branches of the tripartite alliance -‒ the ANC, the SACP and Cosatu — to work together, especially in the alliance’s support of Zuma.
Vavi said the ”decision to support Jacob Zuma was an organisational one. Some members of the media don’t want to accept that. We are celebrating 65 years of Zuma-ism. A life worth celebrating.”
He praised Zuma as being a man who understood the traditions of the ANC and also helped to shape the party’s tradition.
Blade Nzimande told Zuma: ”You have reached an important milestone. We should honour you for the role you played in rebuilding the ANC’s structures in this province.”
He praised Zuma for helping bring peace to the province during the violence-torn 1990s. But as Zuma was praised the media came under fire.
”We hardly have any serious media in this country,” said Nzimande.
”If the media were with us in politics we would only call them one thing: the worst opportunists one could find.
”This idea that there are Zuma supporters and non-Zuma supporters… I don’t know where this idea comes from.”
He said there were ”standing resolutions” in the alliance to support the ANC deputy president.
Nzimande also praised Zuma for always supporting the tripartite alliance. – Sapa