Lungani Zungu
Not only will former president Jacob Zuma not be in attendance for his own welcome home prayer gathering, but it’s not even going to take place at his home.
Zuma’s family have requested that his welcome back prayer be held in Durban and not Nkandla, as the president would reportedly be breaking terms of his parole by hosting it in his hometown.
The event will be held on Thursday at the People’s Park in Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, but his supporters expected the event to take place outside Zuma’s compound.
Zuma’s brother, Khanya Zuma, said: “We would rather have the prayer in Durban and not here in Nkandla because we don’t want to break any parole rules.”
Zuma was arrested on 7 July and released on medical parole last month from his 15-month prison sentence for defying two court orders.
Khanya said they caught wind that Zuma’s enemies would use the gathering if it was held in Nkandla to send him back to jail for breaking the terms of his parole.
He wouldn’t say exactly which parole restrictions he would be breaking.
“We know that AfriForum and the DA had hatched the plan to argue that Zuma is not sick if the event is held in Nkandla and he attends it,” said Khanya.
The DA and AfriForum are challenging Zuma’s release in court.
Zuma’s ally, Mlungisi Mnguni from Impendle in KwaZulu-Natal, said he is heartbroken that the event will be held in Durban and not Nkandla.
“We had planned with other comrades to go to Nkandla to pray for Zuma. Now we are told that we have to go to Durban, where Zuma will not even attend.
“How can you pray for someone who is not even present at the prayer to be well. I will not be attending,” Mnguni said.
Another Zuma backer, Xolisani Bhengu from Nkandla, said he would not go to Durban.
“We are planning our prayer with some of my comrades here in Nkandla. We will not go to Durban. It doesn’t make sense that we will have to go to Durban when the Msholozi (Zuma’s clan name) is here in Nkandla,” Bhengu said.
Zuma’s staunch backer Bishop Vusi Dube said they wanted to hold the event at a central place, where everybody would be able to attend. He said there was nothing amiss about holding the event in Durban.
“We want everybody to attend, that is why we are bringing the event closer to the people.”
Image source: @fortunekighlex
