Impossible to weed out Zuma booers: ANC

Vetting people coming to the ANC's final election rally at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday to prevent President Jacob Zuma being booed is impossible, the party said on Friday. (02/05/2014)

"Booing is part of our everyday life, we deal with it every day," African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe said.

The ANC is hosting a Siyanqoba victory rally on Sunday at the FNB stadium to encourage eligible voters to vote for the party.

Supporters would also be informed of the party's service delivery over the past 20 years.

Zuma was expected to address the rally at 1pm.

Zuma was booed last year at former president Nelson Mandela's memorial service, this year in Limpopo during the election campaign, and again during the international soccer friendly between South Africa and Brazil at the FNB stadium.

The rally would be broadcast live on SABC, eNCA and ANN7.

Mantashe said the ANC was hoping the spirit of Mandela and previous ANC presidents would be with the party at the rally.

The ANC was expecting 160,000 people at the stadium.

The rally would be linked and beamed to other Siyanqoba rallies in KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.

"The ANC will deploy a total of 1500 marshals who will work closely with the ANC security, stadium security, the police, municipal police, disaster management, and environmental health and emergency services," ANC elections head Malusi Gigaba said.

Singers performing at the rally would include Zahara, Ifani, Professor, Mzwakhe Mbuli, and Mafikizolo.

Gigaba said authorities would inform motorist in Johannesburg and Soweto of road closures. - Sapa