Banned Zuma items a hit
2007-12-17 21:22
Polokwane - T-shirts and Kangas depicting the name of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma are selling like hot cakes at the party's national conference in Polokwane.
One vendor said the official ANC memorabilia he had on offer on Sunday was not selling - so he replaced them with Zuma items.
"These other T-shirts such as the ones depicting former ANC presidents Nelson Mandela and Albert Luthuli, are not selling," he said.
"I came all the way from KwaZulu-Natal and I'm worried that I will not even cover my transport costs if I did not sell Zuma 'hot cakes'."
The Zuma T-shirts were selling for R50 while Kangas were R100 each.
A Kanga is an African cotton wrap, similar to the one worn by the woman who accused Zuma of rape last year.
Ban ignored
Vendors appeared to be unconcerned by a ban at the conference venue of wares such as T-shirts depicting Zuma or other leadership candidates.
The ANC leadership has ruled the display of such items could be divisive.
Yet, Zuma items were being sold openly on Monday around the conference marquee at the University of Limpopo.
A second vendor said there was a strong demand for her wares.
"I only brought them today (Monday) after delegates had told me to bring the material as they wanted to buy them," she said.
"I know that we are not allowed to sell them, that is why I do not display them - I keep them in the bag."
She said she only sold the items to delegates who insisted on them.
ANC national chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota has slammed Zuma T-shirts as an anti-ANC tradition.
- SAPA