Nelspruit – Thunderous cheering, screaming, and singing echoed in the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday afternoon as President Jacob Zuma arrived for the launch of the ANC’s Mpumalanga August 3 municipal elections manifesto.
Accompanied by Mpumalanga premier and provincial ANC chairman David Mabuza, Zuma walked around the turf waving his flat cap at supporters. He was escorted by a large contingent of bodyguards and ANC marshals.
Zuma took his seat near the podium shortly before 1pm. The 41 000-seat stadium was nearly full when Zuma arrived.
Zuma, also ANC president, is scheduled to address the gathering.
Mabuza said groundwork had been intensively done in the province and the party was hoping for a 90 percent victory in the tightly-contested August 3 local government elections.
Thousands of ANC supporters had been gathering in the stadium since early morning. Teenage ANC supporters Tracy Nhlengwa, 16, and Sthembiso Mabasa, 19, said they had looked forward to this day for months now.
“We want the ANC to stay in control here. That is very important because it means equality will continue for everyone. We support the party of our parents,” said Nhlengwa.
Mabasa said as a university student she believed the future of young professionals was secure under ANC guard.
“This is the party of Nelson Mandela. Madiba taught us that education is the key to emancipation. So we are here to honour his legacy. Our future lies in the ANC,” she said.
On Saturday, more than 80 000 supporters packed the gigantic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg for the Gauteng ANC manifesto launch.
The crowd cheered as Zuma made his way into the stadium, singing songs as he walked around the field waving at them. The crowd appeared to be unfazed that the programme had been delayed by at least three hours after it had been officially set to begin at 11am.
Gauteng premier and provincial ANC deputy chairman David Makhura announced earlier that 80,128 people had entered the 96 000-seat stadium.
However, many people began leaving the stadium before Zuma started speaking – after the main speaker of the day, Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile, had finished his speech.
African News Agency