Ex-President Jacob Zuma Turns Heads At Mbongeni Ngema’s Funeral
The memorial service of the late legendary Sarafina! playwright Mbongeni Ngema was held on Wednesday, 3 January at the Durban Playhouse – it was attended by several guests including the former South African President Jacob Zuma who turned heads during his grand entrance, mid-way through the service.
Mbongeni Ngema died on Wednesday, 27 December in a fatal car crash on his way back from attending a funeral service in Mbizana in the Eastern Cape. The Eastern Cape police said they are investigating a case of culpable homicide regarding an accident that occurred at about 4.30 pm allegedly involving a white Renault sedan and a truck in the area, TshisaLIVE reported.
Tributes from friends, colleagues, and fans across the nation have since come in number on social media. The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has accorded a Special Provincial Funeral for Ngema and it is set to take place on Friday, 5 January at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), the SABC reported.
The former South African President Jacob Zuma was spotted making his way to his seat mid-way of Ngema’s memorial service yesterday. His grand entrance sent the crowd into jubilation as seen in a clip posted yesterday on X (the social media platform formally known as Twitter). Needless to say, South Africans on social media weren’t too impressed with Zuma’s “attention-seeking” entrance and made it known in the comment section.
[WATCH] Former president Jacob Zuma's entrance sends crowd into jubilation at Mbongeni Ngema's memorial service. #newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/pugRz6zBGY
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 3, 2024
Here Are Some Of The Reactions
“This old man loves attention. He’s the Somizi of politics,” @sewelankoana wrote.
“Deliberately arriving late in order to attract attention,” @vusumuziCR22 commented.
“Making someone’s funeral about yourself is a new low even for Zuma,” @phathus said.
“Jacob Zuma is an attention seeker. At his ripe old age, he is still behaving like a teenager,” @AmukelaniMoyani replied.
He arrived late on purpose
— Zizi (@OngamaD_) January 3, 2024
