Durban - The Office of the Presidency has denied that President Jacob Zuma was escorted to safety as maidens at Enyokeni Palace, under “demon attack”, caused a commotion at the reed dance ceremony.
The Mercury reported on Monday that during a commotion on Saturday when maidens were pushing each other towards an area where Zuma and the king were seated, Zuma’s bodyguards led him away from the stage for his safety. [Read the story here]
Zuma’s spokesman Bongani Majola said on Monday, however, that when the president was seen being escorted from the stage he was actually going to the toilet.
King Goodwill Zwelithini had apparently suspected that Satanism was the cause of the commotion, which started on Friday and continued on Saturday.
Majola said after returning from the toilet, Zuma stayed for the duration of the event and saw the women causing a commotion, which disturbed the king’s speech twice.
“At no stage was the president under danger or under harm,” said Majola.
Explaining how the chaos unfolded, Majola said as the women at the back started the disruption, and that those in the front, not knowing what was happening, got agitated and ran towards the podium.
“On both occasions, the king calmed the commotion. The marshals and police were called to sit them down.”
He said the president did not speak as he had not been scheduled to do so.
“The president was there as the king’s guest. He was not suppose to speak. Only the king speaks. The only thing the president did not do, because of time, was dinner. It was probably about 8pm when the function finished. It was raining and the president had to run.”
IFP MPL Blessed Gwala, who had been at the function, also said that while the king had been calming the women, Zuma had gone to the toilet.
“The president did not run away. This has painted a picture of a president who ran away leaving his king in danger.”
He said the trouble started on Friday when a woman who was suspected of being possessed by Satan screamed “snake” and “frog”.
“Other women also screamed out of shock,” he said.
“As they ran away they stepped on each other, got injured and lost cellphones and shoes.
“After the Friday incident, the king instructed Professor Otty Nxumalo, Inkosi Themba Mavundla and I to draft a statement explaining what happened.
“The king requested the whole nation to pray for the maidens.”
The Mercury