By Sihle Mavuso
MK Party leader Jacob Zuma expressed optimism about his party’s electoral prospects after voting in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday, saying voters had embraced its message, while acknowledging that the outcome remained uncertain.
Zuma voted shortly after 1pm and was accompanied by his wife, Bongi Ngema-Zuma, and party leaders.
His arrival at Ntolwane Primary School brought the voting station to life as supporters welcomed his convoy and escorted it to the voting station.
After voting, he briefly addressed the media, saying: “We have done all that we have done; however, we cannot predict (the outcome) as people are people… I think everything here is going well; I don’t think things are not going well. There is nothing we can complain about.”
He later told the media that he was confident his party would win.
“I am confident… I can tell you that the people of this country want to be governed in a lawful manner, black or red, they want that,” Zuma told journalists who had gathered to witness him voting.
Zuma further said the party had not received any reports of political violence or major incidents as voting continued, and he encouraged political tolerance.
“That is what I want to see, they should be people that respect one another, work together in peace and if there are differences, they should talk about it,” he added.
He then addressed party supporters outside the voting station, where he repeated his claim that his party had been robbed in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking in isiZulu, Zuma declared victory in advance, saying voters had embraced the party’s electoral message and now wanted it in power.
“In the past (elections), they robbed us, but we let that slide and said this day is coming and indeed the day has come. We don’t know what the results will be, but we are saying here, in our land, we will take it over and rule,” Zuma told the crowd.
As Zuma walked out of the voting station, even members of the ANC, his former party, ululated as he passed, expressing their happiness at seeing him.
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