President Jacob Zuma opened the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) conference on Wednesday with a rousing rendition of a song about former president Nelson Mandela, who is gravely ill.
Loosely translated from isiZulu, he sang: “We are walking a long distance, so said Nelson Mandela to his supporters.”
Dipping his body into the song, as the red-clothed delegates harmonised and ululated, Zuma sang several refrains.
On Sunday, his office broke the news that Mandela was critically ill, after being in hospital with a recurring lung infection since June 8.
When he finished the song, Zuma began his prepared speech.
He was addressing the conference in his capacity as African National Congress president. – Sapa