Zuma vigil off to slow, wet start

2008-09-11 21:20

Giordano Stolley and Miranda Andrew

Pietermaritzburg - The planned night vigil for African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma got off to a slow and wet start with fewer than 500 supporters braving the cold in Pietermaritzburg's Freedom Square on Thursday night.

As a small but ardent group of supporters danced to the music of a rhythmic Zuma-supporting band in Freedom Square, opposite the High Court by 19:00, media crews were frantically setting up their equipment ahead of Judge Chris Nicholson's ruling.

On Friday morning Nicholson will deliver his ruling on Zuma's application to have the decision by the Scorpions to charge him declared unlawful.

Police could be seen at different corners, some sitting in vans, as the high-spirited supporters - some carrying umbrellas - sang and danced.

"Our spirit is not dampened by the rain," said Jane Masinga cheerfully as she danced.

"We live and die for Jacob Zuma."

Fires in tents

Other supporters could be seen holding a cup of coffee in one hand and raising the other as they chanted.

Dozens more, clad in brightly-coloured Zuma T-shirts, had started fires in tents they had erected to keep warm.

As night approached, some people were seen participating in a dancing competition. Vendors with boxes of T-shirts, caps and other clothing covered their boxes and joined in the song and dance.

Elizabeth Buthelezi, a hawker selling chips, curries and hotdogs, said she was Jacob Zuma's "greatest supporter".

She said she decided to sell food to Zuma supporters because she expected hundreds to be there.

"I'm selling mutton curry for R25 which is a big discount. It usually goes for more than R30. The only reason why it was discounted is because these are my brother and sisters," she said.

She said she would stay in the square the whole night despite the rain. Another trader, Doreen Shozi, selling fruits and coffee said she could not miss Zuma's appearance.

"We are here for Msholozi because we care deeply for him. Whether in rain or shine, nothing can stop us from being here."

Crowd control barriers

Police spokesperson Superintendent Henry Budhram said that no incidents had been reported during the early evening.

Police and municipal officials were expected later in the night to erect crowd control barriers and cordon off a number of roads in the area.

Zuma faces a charge of each racketeering and money laundering, two charges of corruption and 12 charges of fraud related to the multi-billion rand government arms deal.

Zuma was charged in 2005, but that case was struck from the roll in 2006. He was re-charged in December 2007.

A charge of racketeering and two counts of corruption are also faced by two Thint companies - Thint Holding (Southern Africa) Pty Ltd and Thint (Pty) Ltd - the South African subsidiaries of the French arms manufacturer Thales International (formerly Thomson-CFS).

- SAPA