South Africa - report

Campaigning creeps into Zuma’s birthday celebration

Article published on the 2009-04-13 Latest update 2009-04-13 11:31 TU

Jacob Zuma at the Zuurbekom megachurch, 12 April 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

Jacob Zuma was welcomed by thousands of worshipers at the Zuurbekom mega-temple outside Johannesburg when he arrived Sunday. His visit coincided with the ANC candidate’s 67^th birthday.

The atmosphere was festive. Song and dance accompanied 150 brides and grooms who married in front of Zuma, but the candidate was careful to point out, this wasn’t an official campaign stop.

However, with presidential elections taking place in eight days, Zuma couldn’t resist including some key issues when he addressed the crowd.

“Our new nation was founded on reconciliation and forgiveness. In 1994, we decided that dwelling on the horrors of the past would not burden this country,” Zuma said, emphasizing tolerance, diversity and the family as bedrocks of South Africa.

He also underlined the importance of the Church. “The ANC was formed among others by the leaders of the church…. We have been together with the religious sector in the struggle and we are together now as we run the country.”

RFI’s South Africa correspondent Nick Champeaux noted that, “later in the day Jacob Zuma was expected to deliver more or less the same speech before a Muslim crowd, in Johannesburg’s Mayfair neighbourhood, this time quoting verses of the Koran.”