Zuma fans fade for funds rally
21/03/2007 21:31  - (SA)  

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Thabisile Gumede

Pietermaritzburg - The masses of Jacob Zuma supporters who attended his court appearances at Maritzburg High Court during his corruption trial last year failed to show at the Harry Gwala Stadium for a Human Rights Day concert aimed at raising funds for Zuma's legal fees.

Zuma's lawyers were due to be in Pietermaritzburg High Court on Thursday when the legal team will be opposing attempts by the national directorate of prosecutions to get documents from Mauritius relating to the deputy president's corruption case.

Although Zuma had been expected to address the concert crowd, organisers from the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust felt that the disappointing crowd of just over 1 000 people who had arrived at the stadium by late afternoon on Wednesday did not warrant an appearance by him.

Poorly organised

Kaizer Mohau, spokesperson for the trust, said the event was held to show solidarity with Zuma, whose human rights the trust believes have been repeatedly infringed upon by the national prosecuting authority.

Mohau admitted that the event, which was scheduled to begin at 09:00 and run into the evening, was poorly organised.

"The event has not gone as we had planned. There are a number of contributing factors which have led to the poor outcome you see here today.

He said that some of the factors affecting attendance were the KwaZulu-Natal premier's Human Rights Day event in Ladysmith, which provided free transportation to the event, an Inkatha Freedom Party march at which a large number of Zuma supporters were present "and, perhaps, a poor marketing strategy on our part".

Zuma's trademark song

The small crowd of music lovers, fans of Zuma and local members of the African National Congress enjoyed the music of local maskandi, kwaito and gospel artists like Ihhashi Elimhlophe, Avante, Malini and Izingane Zoma, but some die-hard Zuma fans had come especially to see their hero sing his trademark uMshini wami song.

A disappointed Thembi Shangase of Imbali said: "I wanted to see Zuma so badly.

"I remember the last time he was here at the market square there were thousands of people and we had so much fun. I was hoping it would be the same today."

- The Witness

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