IT was a sea of green and gold at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto where uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party members gathered for the party's manifesto launch, dubbed the "People's Mandate".
This gathering happened on Saturday, 18 May. Eager members waited over eight hours for their leader, former President Jacob Zuma, to address them.
Despite the absence of food and water during the long wait, attendees were entertained by artists predominantly from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). When Zuma eventually made his appearance, he was met with a hero's welcome.
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The crowd chanted "uZuma Wenzeni" (what has Zuma done?) as he made his way around the stadium, greeting supporters. Addressing his critics, who had labelled his party as fraudulent, Zuma proclaimed that their anger had invoked the ancestors' support, ensuring the event's success.
He dismissed claims that he wouldn't attend due to threats against his life.
"They didn't know that this organisation is led by higher powers," he said.
Zuma also tackled issues such as crime, poverty, and unemployment. He attributed the high crime rate to desperation and hunger.
"People are hungry, they don't have food. Would you let yourself die of hunger when your neighbor has food? A person will go and get that food," he said.
This, he said, is why people are unjustly branded as criminals and thoughtless. He announced the end of such times, emphasising the nation's compassionate and generous nature.
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Zuma criticised those who have attempted to erase cultural values. He urged the kings and chiefs of Mzansi to unite in the fight for the country's black population.
"The time has come for no one to fall behind as we fight for our country. The King of the Khoi San has agreed to join forces with uMkhonto Wesizwe across South Africa," Zuma said.
He outlined his party's plan to rally all the country's kings and royalty to vote for the MK party on 29 May, aiming for a two-thirds majority victory. Zuma concluded by stating that while the current governing party might win the majority vote, they would ultimately have to adhere to MK's directives as part of the two-thirds majority.
"They will become the government, but we will be the ones in control. Should they fail, we will have the authority to remove them," he said.
