News / National
Mugabe cheered, Zuma jeered at Mandela memorial service
10 Dec 2013 at 07:08hrs | Views
Johannesburg - President Robert Mugabe was cheered at the memorial service to Nelson Mandela. The cameraman focused on Mugabe and the crowd cheered. Mugabe is well regarded on the continent for fighting against white supremacy and standing up to the west. However, South Africa President Jacob Zuma did not receive the receiption he expected as he was booed at the start of the memorial service, in stark contrast to the rapturous applause received by Thabo Mbeki.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe proved pretty popular.
Crowds at the stadium both booed and cheered when Zuma entered the stadium and made his way onto the stage for the service, which started an hour later than the scheduled starting time of 11:00.
President Zuma's name was skipped in the formal introduction by ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa in an effort to avoid more jeering.
The ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa urged the crowd to show restraint and be disciplined.
"We should show the same level of discipline as Madiba exuded," Ramaphosa said.
More booing was heard when Zuma's name was mentioned, while the crowds cheered loudly when the names of former presidents Kgalema Motlanthe, Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk were mentioned.
Zuma was seen with a stony expression, cleaning his glasses. Sapa reported he was seated between two of his wives, Gloria Bongekile Ngema and Thobeka Stacy Mabhija.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe proved pretty popular.
Crowds at the stadium both booed and cheered when Zuma entered the stadium and made his way onto the stage for the service, which started an hour later than the scheduled starting time of 11:00.
The ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa urged the crowd to show restraint and be disciplined.
"We should show the same level of discipline as Madiba exuded," Ramaphosa said.
More booing was heard when Zuma's name was mentioned, while the crowds cheered loudly when the names of former presidents Kgalema Motlanthe, Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk were mentioned.
Zuma was seen with a stony expression, cleaning his glasses. Sapa reported he was seated between two of his wives, Gloria Bongekile Ngema and Thobeka Stacy Mabhija.
Source - online
