South Africans here sang songs of liberation and ululated for Jacob Zuma as their candidate for presidency without being victimised, harassed or arrested as would have been the case in Harare.
The estimated 5 000 delegates sang in protest to the ANC’s highest decision making body, the National Executive Council (NEC), for merely suggesting that ote counting would be done electronically instead of their preferred manual process.
The delegates responded to the ANC Chairman Mosiuoa Lekota’s proposals with Zulu dances and chanting of Jacob Zuma popular song “UmShini Wami”.
As if that was not enough, delegates went a step further by defying the ANC conference rules and regulations when they sang songs that tipped the rest electorate about the people’s chosen leader-Zuma even before the voting process took place.
The delegates also told CAJ News after their singing that they wanted to send a clear message to President Mbeki that they did not want any leader who overstayed in power like the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.
“This is what we call democracy, not to threaten people when they say we want a people-driven constitution, free and fair election,” said Walaza Lidod of Limpopo.