By Xolani Mbanjwa
Political Bureau
President Jacob Zuma chose to skip lunch with dignitaries and captains of industry attending his Presidential Address Golf Challenge on Saturday and instead opted to spend the afternoon at the 40th birthday celebration of his ANC presidential aide, Zizi Kodwa, in Gugulethu, near Cape Town.
Kodwa was rounding off a two-week long birthday bash at his birthplace when the president made a surprise visit.
Kodwa said he had no idea that the president would arrive at his home and said he'd attracted a crowd of nearly 1 000 people.
Zuma had been attending the annual charity golf event at the upmarket De Zalze Golf Course in Stellenbosch. He had teed off to applause from guests impressed by his swing.
The golf event attracts a veritable political who's who and takes place after every State of the Nation address to raise funds for a charity of the president's choice.
Those present included cabinet ministers, MPs, MECs, directors-general, heads of state-owned enterprises and executives from private sector companies.
This year the proceeds totalled R11-million and will go to the KwaZulu-Natal based Jacob Zuma Education Trust formed by Zuma in 1995.
While the trust started in KwaZulu-Natal, it has extended its footprints to the Eastern Cape and Limpopo with the intention of spreading to the rest of South Africa in the next three to five years, a statement from the Department of Public Service and Administration, headed by minister Richard Baloyi, said. Baloyi hosted the golf event.
ANC heavyweights who attended included ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema and Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula.
In Gugulethu, Zuma was met with much excitement and ululation from onlookers and passers-by, Kodwa said, showing that "the president is human and he is a man of the people".
"It was a nice surprise. I just got a call 20 minutes before his arrival and one of his aides told me that he is coming. A police van arrived to assess security and later he arrived," said Kodwa.
Zuma only had one message for Kodwa: "Get married, find a wife."
Zuma stayed at the party for more than four hours.
Kodwa said his African celebration was intended to give thanks to the people who saw him grow up.
"I thought, as part of celebrating that milestone in life, it was important to celebrate with the people of Gugulethu.
"The president felt that he wanted to come and there was lots of excitement.
"The people of Ekuhlaleni in Gugulethu made me who I am today."
Kodwa's birthday celebrations kicked off two weeks ago at the upmarket Sandton nightclub, Taboo.