African National Congress (ANC) leader President Cyril Ramaphosa was booed and heckled when he arrived at the party’s KwaZulu-Natal elective conference. He eventually managed to address the crowd despite the unwelcome reception.
There was confusion on Sunday morning as the ANC KZN leaders told journalists that Ramaposa would be a no show after his ally Premier Sihle Zikalala and his entire slate lost to Siboniso Duma’s Taliban which is a faction in support of former president Jacob Zuma.
As soon as Ramaphosa arrived at the venue, pro Zuma delegates waved a change sign at Ramaphosa, indicating their dissatisfaction with his presidency. The RET-Taliban burst into the song ‘Wenzeni Zuma’, which translates as ‘what has Zuma done?
The newly elected provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma had to intervene and calm the temperature as the president was continuously heckled. He asked the delegates to be disciplined as the media will report on how unruly they are if they continue with the heckling.
“What they were singing today was not directed at anyone, but they want you as the leadership to note their concerns. The song Wenzeni U’Zuma has a history and therefore when delegates see leadership it’s an opportunity for them to say leadership take note of our pain, our complaints,” ANC treasurer general Paul Mashatile told journalists on Friday at the conference.
Source: Eyewitness News, The South African, The Citizen, image from Eyewitness News: SACP/Twitter
