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President Jacob Zuma was forced to cut his Reconciliation Day address short today as the tent he was in collapsed.
Zuma was addressing the nation (see below for the full speech) from a reconciliation day event in Gopane, North West, when a fierce storm ripped through the area with strong winds lifting the marquee out of the ground.
Today I ran for my life. The tent went up while President #JacobZuma was delivering his #ReconciliationDay speech.I am safe. pic.twitter.com/85Am2KUhW9
— SITHOLEEXPRESS (@SthembisoMedia) December 16, 2016
The president enjoyed a warm reception from the crowd before delving into the significance of the December 16 public holiday.
As Zuma mentioned how “painful and traumatic” the incident at Marikana was for the entire nation, the weather gods decided it was time to “bless” the gathering causing the tent to collapse.
#Zuma mentions Marikana in his #reconciliationday address in Northwest and the weather Gods put a stormy end to his speech. @City_Press
— Alicestine October (@alioctober) December 16, 2016
#ZumaReconciliation The truly eerie thing was: Marquee was swept into the air IMMEDIATELY after #Zuma started talking about #Marikana
— Nickolaus Bauer (@NickolausBauer) December 16, 2016
#reconciliationday Winds wreaked havoc in North West where President Zuma was giving his speech. VM pic.twitter.com/MD0RPJFKXm
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 16, 2016
Zuma was immediately removed from the venue by his bodyguards and sped off in the presidential SUV.
No injuries were reported from the event.
#reconciliationday no injuries have been reported during the incident, but the event was subsequently called off. VM pic.twitter.com/8BI27j4B4j
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 16, 2016
A word cloud of Zuma's reconciliation day speech, reproduced below, counted 'people', 'apartheid' and 'country' as the the most used words.
