By Sipho Khumalo
For the second time since the firing of Jacob Zuma as deputy president, KwaZulu-Natal Premier S'bu Ndebele battled to address a rally in the province with Zuma supporters singing songs and chanting slogans in support of the ANC deputy president.
Clad in yellow and black ANC Youth League T-shirts emblazoned with Zuma's picture and the slogans "Innocent until proven guilty" and "100% behind Zuma", the youth sang songs such as Msholozi ayihlome ("To arms, Zuma").
The programme for the rally in Umlazi, held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Freedom Charter, was delayed yesterday as the ANC leadership, including eThekwini Region Chairman Bheki Cele and provincial Treasurer Mike Mabuyakhulu, tried in vain to calm the angry youth.
Tempers ran high when the two attempted to confiscate the pro-Zuma posters from the crowd, and Cele's security detail had to intervene amid a tense situation.
During Ndebele's address, the youth eventually calmed down and the premier urged the crowd not to divide the ANC.
There was a strong security presence, including the police's elite Intervention Unit, intelligence agents and Public Order unit officers.
ANC Youth League Chairman Nhlakanipho Ntombela also struggled to address the angry crowd and had to leave the stage amid shouted pro-Zuma slogans.
Senzo Mchunu, the Kwa-Zulu-Natal ANC secretary, explained to the crowd, which was demanding to be addressed by Zuma, that it was intended that Zuma be in Umlazi, but he had been deployed by the ANC's national executive committee to Kliptown, where the main Freedom Charter anniversary celebrations were taking place.
The ANC's provincial general council had resolved at a meeting last weekend to invite Zuma to yesterday's event in a move largely seen as an attempt to "calm angry pro-Zuma supporters".
However, it was announced that Zuma was "withdrawing from all ANC activities".
Yesterday's event marked the second time in a few weeks that Ndebele had problems addressing a rally in KwaZulu-Natal.
On June 16, a riot broke out at the Youth Day celebrations at KwaMashu stadium. Tensions rose to the point that Ndebele and members of his cabinet had to be escorted out of the venue as angry Zuma supporters threw objects at the ANC leadership. A table had to be hoisted over Ndebele's head to shield him from flying objects which rained down.
Last week, pro-Zuma sentiments grew stronger in the province as hundreds of youths packed the Lamontville Hall for an address by ANC Youth League President Fikile Mbalula.
Mbalula urged the youth to arrive in thousands at the first court appearance by Zuma in the Durban Magistrate's Court this week.
Zuma is to appear in court on two charges of corruption.
Both the SACP and Cosatu in the province have called for an all-night vigil outside the court tomorrow - a day before Zuma's appearance.
Published on the web by Mercury on June 27, 2005.
© Mercury 2005. All rights reserved.