CAPE TOWN, May 1 (ANA) – South African Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande on Monday described the collapse of a Workers’ Day rally in Bloemfontein in the Free State, which was meant to be addressed by President Jacob Zuma, as the final “wake-up call” for the tripartite alliance.
“I think it’s sad, it’s really sad. I think we should really see this as the ultimate wake-up call because in essence if we don’t arrest this we will be judged very harshly as the generation of leaders who allowed the alliance to collapse….but we are still going to go back and discuss this matter properly…,” said Nzimande.
The rally collapsed after Zuma arrived to boos and heckling from members of Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) affiliate unions.
Zuma was meant to speak, but Cosatu decided to cancel his speech and those of other alliance leaders due to the anti-Zuma sentiment.
Marshalls had their hands full trying to break up physical altercations between the pro-Zuma and anti-Zuma sections of the crowd.
Zuma had earlier arrived smiling and shaking the hands of alliance leaders, with several of his supporters shouting “Zuma, Zuma, Zuma”.
Later on as chants of “Zuma must fall” reverberated through the Loch Logan Park, the President, seated between Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini and Nzimande, rubbed his forehead before appearing glum as he crossed his arms viewing the rowdy crowd.
Police had to step in and prevent union members from pushing through a barricade erected between the crowd and the marquee where the President and other officials were seated.
Zuma was whisked away by his bodyguards when it became clear the crowd would not let him speak.
Both Cosatu and the SACP have called for Zuma to step down following his sweeping cabinet reshuffle in March, which saw the sacking of former Finance Minister Pravin Gordan.
Free State Premier and ANC leader in the Free State Ace Magasula described Monday’s event, which he attended, as a deliberate attempt to embarrass Zuma.
“This was actually planned, staged to embarrass the whole leadership. There are people who have planned it. I’m told by some comrades here that people who are even more vocal and disrupting this [gathering] are not from this province. We have taken our own videos, we will be analysing. Tomorrow we are meeting with the alliance officials,” said Magashule.
“I know this was a national event but I’m just saying people in this province are quite disciplined. This is an embarrassment but we have fought for this freedom. We have fought for the workers’ rights.”
Magashule had a message for leaders in the tripartite alliance incorporating the ANC, SACP and Cosatu: “Those who are stage managing us and going out into the media, as if they don’t have internal debates, we are saying you are causing a mess for this country”.
Magashule was however adamant the “masses” love Zuma.
“The people are still in support of Jacob Zuma. Millions of our people have voted ANC. Go and check where Zuma goes and see how much he is supported. It’s not about Zuma. The enemies of the African National Congress know that you must attack Zuma. They have [previously] attacked Mandela, Mbeki and they attack Zuma. They will still attack any other person who becomes the president of South Africa – to weaken the ANC,” he said.
Zuma was not the only member of the ANC top six to receive a cold reception at Workers’ Day rallies.
ANC chairwoman Baleke Mbete, who was addressing a rally in KwaZulu-Natal and the party’s deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, who was deployed to Limpopo, were also booed and heckled.
Workers’ Day rallies attended by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize went off without any mayor disruptions.
– African News Agency (ANA)
