President Jacob Zuma had to be discreetly rescued from a woman who got a little flirtatious and over-familiar with him at a Sun City gala dinner on the eve of the ANC's elections manifesto launch at the weekend.
The woman, a financial advisor whose name is known to Independent Newspapers was seated on ZUma's left and started the evening with polite yet friendly conversation with the president.
As dinner and drinks were served the woman, wearing a golden jacket, became increasingly familiar with Zuma, joking with him and touching his arm, while Zuma seemed to do his best to remain aloof yet polite.
The final straw, however, came when the woman stumbled and almost fell into Zuma’s arms after they returned, with other guests, to their table after everyone had danced in front of the stage to live music and dance performances.
At this point many people had queued up at Zuma’s table to greet him or have their picture taken with him, and it seemed that the woman was becoming something of an embarrassment to the president.
Zuma’s bodyguards then moved the woman one seat away, while the wife of an Eskom civil engineer, whose name is also known to Independent Newspapers, was moved up to sit next to Zuma.
She, however, appeared to be more concerned about the woman in the golden jacket. From her body language, it seemed she had been given the task of gently shielding the president from the woman's attentions.
Zuma a teetotaler, drank Coke Zero with his dinner.
Zuma’s table seated a mixture of businesspeople, party people and unknowns. Whereas the party has in the past, for example at a swanky dinner preceding the party’s national general council in Durban in September, expected guests to fork out thousands for the privilege of sharing a table with the president, the guests at Zuma’s table on Saturday night were not expected to pay.
Other guests at Zuma’s table included newly-elected North West chairman Supra Mahumapelo on Zuma’s right, flanked by mining mogul Patrice Motsepe, who has often sponsored such events, ANC chaplain-general Vukile Mehana, whom Zuma quoted in his speech, and Vusi Khanyile, managing director of Thebe Investment Corporation.
Zuma impressed with his dancing and showed his versatility as he swiftly switched from “get down” to pantsula dance and indlamu, the traditional Zulu dance.
Seasoned performers like kwaito stars Chomee, Arthur Mafokate, Winnie Khumalo and socialite Khanyi Mbau had nothing on Zuma each time he took to the stage during the three-hour swanky event.
ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema’s unenthusiastic dance moves were showed up badly by the energetic ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu and Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, who afterwards joked that Malema can’t dance.
Zuma had earlier told the gathering that “when you listen to the ANC album, the body involuntarily moves; toes, feet and every part… and you find yourself dancing even if you didn’t want to”.
He called on the ANC members to turn to music when canvassing for votes ahead of the local government elections expected to be held in May.
“When we, in the ANC, go to elections, it’s like going to war. We go all out, leaving no stone unturned.
“We are ready to go on the streets and tell our people through word, song and dance that the ANC is here and ready to work for them,” he said.
While a number of senior ANC leaders attended the gala event; not everyone was there.
The soccer derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs earlier in the day was blamed by organisers for a few empty tables.
ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa told Independent Newspapers that the focus on music, which appealed to young people, was part of the ruling party’s “renewal” drive.
- Political Bureau