A handful of Eastern Cape Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK party) supporters were left disappointed when party president Jacob Zuma failed to pitch on Saturday.
Zuma was meant to address supporters at the party’s election rally at the NU2 Stadium in Gqeberha’s Motherwell township on Saturday but instead chose to attend the funeral of an unnamed close friend in Dikeni.
MK party supporters travelled from various parts of the province only to be disappointed by the news that Zuma’s priorities had changed.
Supporters of the party who wanted to see Zuma travelled from as far as Bizana — a nine-hour drive to hear the former president address the rally at the NU2 Stadium in Motherwell, The Herald reported.
MK party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela confirmed that Zuma had to attend the funeral of a close friend who had passed away in Dikeni.
“This threw off the organisation’s planning because Dikeni is an hour-and-a-half away from where he was, which is East London, and then having to come this way had an impact.
“He had to go and pay his respects. But this is not the first time it has happened.
“The president couldn’t attend [a rally] in Limpopo because he had to attend a funeral,” Ndhlela told The Herald.
The event, according to The Herald, was surrounded by a cloud of confusion as supporters who travelled from afar questioned where the food was and who would pay for their taxis.
A supporter who travelled from KwaBhaca said they had left their home town at 9pm on Friday and had not eaten since then.
“It’s after 2pm and I’ve not even had an apple.
“They will never see me again,” she said, referring to the party.
Compiled by Staff Writer
Pictured above: A handful of Umkhonto Wesizwe supporters who attended the party’s election rally at the Motherwell NU2 stadium on Saturday.
Image source: Nomazima Nkosi/The Herald
