President affirmed by large crowd

RESIDENTS of the region have lost little faith in President Jacob Zuma, who arrived to tumultuous applause and cheers at a Drought Relief Imbizo held at Melmoth over the weekend.

Reports cite at least 10 000 people arrived, many bedecked in the green and yellow ANC colours with some sporting shirts and jackets bearing the executive’s visage.

Around 100 busses were hired to bring supporters to the event and many food parcels were distributed.

The imbizo came two days after President Zuma went on live television to apologise and affirm his intention to follow a Constitutional Court ruling which instructed the president must pay a percentage of the costs of non-security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

The ANC accepted the apology and on Tuesday, an attempt by opposition parties to have Zuma impeached failed in National Assembly.

Jovial Jacob

Meanwhile the President arrived at the imbizo in Melmoth smiling and waving, even dancing in the rain after his speech.

As he entered the massive tent, many broke into song chanting ‘Zuma, our president’.

During his speech, he commented on the upcoming local government election registrations.

‘Voting is very important. We have a problem as black people. Some people don’t even go out there and vote. Every elderly white person goes out there to vote because they know how important voting is,’ he said.

He added however, that he did not know the motives of white voters.

For the majority of his speech, the President stood with his hands in his pockets looking relaxed and making jokes with the crowd.

One man had to be bodily removed from the tent when he ran forward and sank to his knees in front of the stage, begging to speak to Zuma.

He was carried away by bodyguards before his plea was heard.