ANC president Jacob Zuma’s security detail has been beefed up ahead of his inauguration next week because there were some people who hated him, Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Friday.
Speaking to the South African Press Association shortly after addressing thousands of workers at a May Day Rally in Durban’s Lindelani area, he said: ”There was a lot of hatred of Jacob Zuma before the election — there were sour grapes.”
”There was evidence that people were manipulating government institutions for personal gain … we were en-route to a banana republic.”
He said the people ”doing the manipulating” hated Zuma.
”So far there hasn’t been any threat on his life — not that I am aware of — but his security has been beefed up to ensure his safety,” said Vavi.
He said some sections of the media had worked with the opposition to create a ”monster image” of Zuma.
”As you can see through the election victory, people can see he is not a monster because through him, the people see themselves,” said Vavi.
He added the same people who hated Zuma were ”flabbergasted” to see how the ANC president had won the hearts of voters.
”All I can hope is that they [the people who hate Zuma] can accept the majority verdict, the verdict of the people.”
Vavi said he had made a call to the Inkatha Freedom Party, the Pan Africanist Congress and the Congress of the People to return home.
”I told them to come back home because they can never defeat the ANC. The IFP belongs to the ANC because it came out of the ANC, Cope came out of the ANC, it belongs to the ANC, the PAC came out of the ANC, it belongs to the ANC,” he said.
Referring to Zuma’s inauguration, Vavi said he was happy former president Thabo Mbeki would attend.
”I have also extended an invitation to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.”
On the elections, Vavi commended workers in KwaZulu-Natal for their good behaviour.
”We are very proud … we are an example to people around the world about how a democracy functions peacefully at elections.” – Sapa