Zuma's hometown celebrates
2007-12-19 11:53
Durban - A rural KwaZulu-Natal community and hometown to newly elected African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma was abuzz on Tuesday night after residents heard of Zuma's victory.
Thousands of residents in Nkandla in northern KZN and Zuma's family members crowded streets and sang while others converged outside the Zuma home, got into their vehicles and hooted continuously.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Jay Naicker said there was lots of hooting but that no serious incidents had taken place during the celebration.
"We are preparing just in case Zuma returns to Nkandla to celebrate. I am checking on it to see if any big events are going to take place," said Naicker.
He said if there is an event for Zuma, he presumed it would take place over the weekend, before Christmas.
Zuma victory will hit IFP
Just last week, analysts and politicians predicted that a Zuma-led ANC would have a major impact on the province.
They agreed the ANC's popularity in the province would increase at the expense of the Inkatha Freedom Party if Zuma was elected the party's new leader.
The Democratic Alliance predicted a Zuma-led ANC would also lead to increased support for the DA at the expense of the IFP.
DA KZN leader Mike Ellis said the DA in the province would benefit from a Zuma-led ANC, and he was of the opinion that the IFP "could well be in trouble with a Zuma presidency".
"There will be definite growth (for the DA in KZN). We don't want to focus on minority groups, but I think minority groups will be very anxious about a Zuma presidency," Ellis said.
ANC 'a huge brand name'
Political analyst Protas Madlala said the IFP was extremely worried about the ANC under Zuma's leadership.
He said party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi also knew this posed a threat to the IFP.
University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Dr Lawrence Piper said there was no doubt that a Zuma-led ANC would be a threat to the IFP.
At the opening of the IFP Youth Brigade conference held last weekend however, IFP secretary-general Reverend Musa Zondi denied any concerns over a Zuma-led ANC.
"People vote for the party, not the individual. Look, under Mbeki the ANC got a two-thirds majority. That is something that didn't happen under (Nelson) Mandela, who is more popular," Zondi said.
"The ANC is a huge brand name and it makes no difference (if Zuma leads the party)."
Zondi said that the IFP was more concerned about the negative effects the ANC leadership race may have on the country".
The ANC's KwaZulu-Natal secretary general Senzo Mchunu said there was no-doubt the Zuma victory would have an impact on KZN.
"We have seen a lot of interest and change in the attitudes towards the ANC in the Nkandla area," he said.
Zuma was born and raised in Nkandla, an area that has strongly supported the IFP in every election since the demise of apartheid in 1994.
- SAPA