correction...Re: [DEBATE] : (Fwd) Motlanthe voetsek, say hard-of-hearing Durbanites yesterday

[Patrick Bond]

Motlanthe was not booed, say ANC
28 April 2009, 12:59

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday reacted angrily to reports that 
President Kgalema Motlanthe was heckled during the Freedom Day 
celebration at Durban's Absa stadium.

Motlanthe's speech was disrupted when people sang loudly, forcing him to 
stop speaking while African National Congress provincial chairman Zweli 
Mkhize persuaded the crowd to keep quiet.

The disruptions began when people sitting high up in the stadium 
complained about the sound quality.

ANC provincial chairperson Senzo Mchunu said media reports that the 
president was booed and heckled were not correct.

"This is far from the truth. There was a huge enthusiasm for the president.

"The crowd's displeasure was not a reflection of an attitude against the 
president. The crowds were merely expressing their dissatisfaction with 
the sound system which was of poor quality making them unable to hear 
the speeches of their leadership."

He said the crowd's dissatisfaction with the sound quality had started 
during the preceding addresses of premier Sbu Ndebele and Arts and 
Culture Minister Pallo Jordan.

"The ANC chief whip Cyril Xaba was sent to the stands to test the sound 
quality and he himself expressed that those sitting at the upper level 
of the stands could not hear any sound," Mchunu said.

He said the media had failed to mention that the crowd was in a jovial 
and celebratory mood.

Earlier on Tuesday before the ANC statement was released, the Congress 
of the People condemned in the "strongest terms" the "unruly behaviour" 
of the crowd.

"It is completely unacceptable that a sitting president of the country 
was subjected to such undignified behaviour," said COPE President Terror 
Lekota in a statement.

"This proves that the separation of powers between state and party are 
blurred. Events of this nature are held to celebrate national unity and 
cohesion.

"COPE condemns in the strongest terms the unruly behaviour...

"Cope calls on ANC president Jacob Zuma to distance himself from such 
behaviour and for the ANC to educate its members about the significance 
of national events," said Lekota. - Sapa