ANC denies walkout on Zuma
JOHANNESBURG – The ANC in Gauteng is rejecting any suggestion that some of its members deliberately walked out of FNB Stadium as President Jacob Zuma addressed them on Saturday.
The provincial structure also says that filling the stadium was never a priority but that it was the only venue big enough to accommodate supporters attending the party’s provincial manifesto launch.
As for those who left during the speeches, “we know that generally, even at funerals, towards the end people — because maybe of a comfort breaker, hunger, anxiety about buses — may actually leave before time,” said ANC Gauteng deputy secretary Gwen Ramokgopa.
At its peak, at about 3pm, the ANC Gauteng manifesto launch rally was, in fact, well attended. Not quite, ‘hash-tag #FillUpFNBFull, as the party had hyped it up to be but full enough for the provincial leadership to make bold claims.
“As Gauteng President Zuma, we welcome you! Comrades I want to announce the latest numbers, 85,350. We’ve now included the suites,” said ANC Gauteng deputy chairperson David Makhura.
