Hajra Omarjee
28 November 2008
Johannesburg — IT WAS clear African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma would not have to work too hard to secure the support of some of SA's performing artists when he addressed them yesterday.
He attended an ANC Youth League (ANCYL) gathering at Montecasino in Johannesburg that sought to convince artists to campaign for the party ahead of next year's election.
Veteran actress Lillian Dube said: "My mother would kill me if I voted for anyone but the ANC."
ANC dissidents have been on a publicity drive since breaking away from the governing party, drumming up support through high-profile resignations and dominating media space.
Yesterday, ANCYL president Julius Malema and Zuma did not miss the opportunity to campaign, saying some opposition parties were "Mickey Mouse" clubs that only "wished" they could govern. "With us it is a matter of governance," Zuma said.
The artists used the chance to raise many complaints. Comedian David Kau suggested the next arts and culture minister should be someone who "sort of understands" where artists come from.
TV star and director Sello Maake ka Ncube said the sector was still largely unregulated and many artists did not have access to medical aid or pension benefits.
Zuma did not play to the crowd, something he has often been criticised for doing. Rather, he called on artists to organise themselves, including joining or forming unions so they could speak with one voice.
"Organise yourself to speak more powerfully. Come as an organised voice, I think it is important," said Zuma.
With the ANC facing arguably its toughest electoral challenge since 1994, Malema said the artists would play a central role in the ANC's campaign. "You influence the thinking of society," he said.
Although the artists' complaints were repetitive, Zuma patiently listened to them for more than 90 minutes. "This interaction is critical so that we can appreciate your challenges," he said.
Zuma did not sing his trademark anthem, Umshini Wam, yesterday. Instead, he put the artists on the spot when he asked if they had grabbed the opportunities offered by the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The crowd promptly recited several songs for possible use at the event.
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