Zuma gets big welcome in KZN

Pietermaritzburg - President Jacob Zuma received a rapturous welcome wherever he went in Pietermaritzburg's Imbali township on Tuesday.

Earlier people formed long queues outside the Durban University of Technology's Indumiso campus in Pietermaritzburg and waited several hours for him to arrive.

When he did eventually arrive shortly after 13:00 the Indumiso sports field erupted in singing and loud cheers. He was expected to deliver a speech.

If there was any dissatisfaction at his government's performance it was not visible from the thousands of people who packed a massive marquee and the main stand on the field.

Earlier, Zuma visited three homes in the township and spoke to the occupants. These included a household of orphans, led by a 20-year-old Zandile Ncobo, who looks after her four siblings and a child of her own.

Zuma was accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu amid a heavy security presence.

Another house Zuma visited was that of pensioner Ntombi Mtshali, who received a brand new walking stick, but only after she fell while trying to do a dance for Zuma.

At all three houses supporters gathered to see the president, whose visit to Imbali was described as his presidential imbizo to Pietermaritzburg.

Outside the campus stalls selling ANC T-shirts and caps did a brisk business.