INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
A website selling R5 000 tickets to a VIP marquee at the Durban July listed President Jacob Zuma and his wife, Sizakele Makhumalo-Zuma, as the main hosts. File photo: Cindy Waxa
Durban – Will President Jacob Zuma be attending this year’s Durban July – or not? That was the question being asked on Tuesday after a website selling R5 000 tickets to a VIP marquee at the event listed him and his first wife, Sizakele Makhumalo-Zuma, as the main hosts.
MM Lounge’s website also listed the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti, KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Senzo Mchunu, ANC MP Ruth Bhengu and ANC MPL Lizzy Shabalala as guests.
The invitation reads: “Mr JG (Jacob Ggedleyihlekisa) Zuma, the chairman of the Masimambisane Rural Development Initiative (MRDI) and Mrs Sizakele Zuma, the chairwoman of the Mashobane Foundation, cordially invite guests to the business lounge marquee.”
But Zuma’s spokesman, Mac Maharaj, said emphatically: “He will not attend the Durban July. He was never scheduled to attend it.”
He would not confirm or deny if Zuma was not attending the event, which he has attended before, because of Nelson Mandela’s deteriorating health.
“I will not give you answers that suit you. It (the Durban July) was not on his (Zuma’s) diary,” he said.
Tickets for the fundraising event cost R4 995 and only 250 have been made available.
Guests will have access to a drinks bar, betting totes, a “chill” area, dance floor, photo area and shuttle services to and from selected hotels, VIP parking, helicopter-pad access and separate ablution facilities.
The “list of honourable guests”, which Zuma and Makhumalo-Zuma are listed with, will be hosted by television personality and businesswoman Penny Lebyane, Pamela K and radio personality Sthandwa Nzuza.
Guests will also enjoy performances by Zakes Bantwini, Khaya Mthethwa, NaimaK, DJ Mel, DJ Sox, DJ Simtho and a five-piece jazz band, the website states.
On Tuesday, Mchunu declined to comment and referred The Mercury to the Mashobane Foundation.
Mashobane chief executive Noah Nyawo said an “error” had been made by their IT service provider.
The website listed the politicians as “possible guests” on its home page but a PDF format invitation, downloaded from the website, listed the ANC politicians as “attending guests”.
Nyawo said it would be rectified.
The funds raised would go towards Mashobane and MRDI, of which Zuma is the chairman and his controversial cousin Sibusiso “Deebo” Mzobe is the deputy.
City Press reported last year that the Masimambisane was the engine room driving “Zumaville”, the development near Zuma’s home village, Nkandla.
Mzobe confirmed his attendance at the July. He explained that a group of businessman had come up with the idea of the marquee to support MRDI and the Mashobane Foundation.
Dubbed “the mayor of Zumaville”, he insisted that the funds would not be used on the Nkandla compound. Instead, they would go towards “farming”.
“He (Zuma) won’t be in the marquee,” said Mzobe.
The Mercury
