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Zuma's fans still to cough up
29/08/2005 22:16 - (SA)
Durban - The vocal support enjoyed by former deputy president Jacob Zuma still has to translate into cash, said the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust on Monday.
"The wave of support has been unbelievable, but that has to be turned into cash. I am very excited by the support so far," said trust chairperson Don Mkhwanazi, a Durban businessman.
"It is still early days, you know. If you look at it, trustees only met on Thursday to strategise how to campaign and raise funds.
"Different stakeholder groups must be dealt with in a medium conducive to them," he said.
News of the launch of the fund also had been overshadowed by calls for Zuma to be reinstated, for charges against him to be dropped and by the recent Scorpions raid on his homes.
The fund was waiting for the furore to die down so that an appeal for donations could be launched formally.
Coy on the contributions
Asked how much cash had been raised since the fund was launched to help pay for Zuma's corruption trial, Mkhwanazi said: "I've not been able to establish that".
Mkhwanazi added the media had not been very helpful. Only one Sunday newspaper had published the details of the fund's bank account.
The trust account is at First National Bank in Durban. The account number is 62087217818 and the branch code is 221 426.
There also was some teething trouble with the fund's SMS campaign, but this has now been overcome.
Zuma supporters can SMS the word "Zuma" to 36045 and each text will cost R5 which will be given to the trust.
With Mkhwanazi on the trust's board are National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union general secretary Fikile Slovo Majola and SA Youth Council president Sizwe Shezi.
A website - www.friendsofjz.co.za - is being established to provide updates of funds collected, fund-raising events and the trial.
It will also allow the public to send messages of support to Zuma.
- SAPA
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