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In a very hot Rustenburg on Saturday, President Jacob Zuma waded through a speech in which he sought to reassert his authority and show that the ANC remained the choice of South Africans.
But Zuma also used the ANC’s anniversary celebrations to reassure business that government funds would be managed prudently and it would not spend money it did not have.
Zuma made these comments during the party’s gala dinner on Friday and repeated them in his January 8 statement that charted the ANC’s path for the year.
This followed criticism towards the end of last year that he fired finance minister Nhlanhla Nene because the latter had refused to approve an expensive nuclear deal.
Although his speech was focused on party plans and programmes, Zuma took time to take a jab at critics, asking them to allow the ANC, as the party that had won elections, to be allowed to govern.
“Democracy and the democratic expression of the will of the majority must be protected by all citizens.
“There should be no spurious attempts to circumvent the legitimate exercise of people’s power.”
He directed this criticism at the media, analysts as well as parties and NGOs who took government to court.
He also had a go at the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), saying attempts to disrupt Parliament were an expression of counter-revolutionary conduct.
“It seeks to deny South Africans their right to have legislation passed that will create a better life for all. The ANC will not tolerate this desperate and despicable conduct.”
Those “living in the past” were also not spared the rod, as Zuma condemned the recent spate of racism – also using the occasion to take a swipe at the DA’s Dianne Kohler-Barnard over comments she shared that were favourable to PW Botha.
He also seemed to outline a cogent plan on how the government was going to respond to students’ demand for no fee increase this year. Up to R4.5 billion more would be spent in student funding in the 2016/17 financial year, he said.
The January 8 rally in the 44 000-seater Royal Bafokeng Stadium was well attended, but the crowd was well short of the 123 000 people ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte had predicted would show up.
With temperatures soaring, the crowd grew restless as Zuma read through every page of his speech. While many braved the heat, parts of the stadium were visibly empty as crowds sought shade elsewhere.
A pitch invader provided some distraction as he outran a squadron of unfit Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association marshals before finally being brought down.
After being treated to the country’s top musical acts, the crowds got onto buses and headed home while the well-heeled hit Rustenburg’s fun spots.
