By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
- The MK party’s gala dinner with Jacob Zuma aims to raise funds, with table packages costing up to R2-million and individual seats priced at R66,000.
- Despite lacking governmental influence, the party capitalises on Zuma’s profile and its rising political presence, seeking to dominate KZN’s provincial government.
Sitting anywhere close to Jacob Zuma at the MK party’s upcoming gala dinner will not come cheap, with VIP packages topping R2-million.
The MK party will be celebrating its one year anniversary at the 55,000 capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 15 December.
On the next day, Zuma and the MK party leadership will host VIP supporters and business people at a gala dinner in the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
The new party is hoping to use the event to raise funds, with the attendees paying as much as R66,000 a head.
A seat in the back of the room will cost as much as R25,000.
The party said its high table, dubbed the platinum spear table, is selling as a package of 30 seats for R2-million.
The golden spear table is priced at R1,5-million with 25 seats while the silver spear table will cost R1-million for 20 seats.
“Purchasers of gala dinner tables will receive complimentary suite tickets for the mass public celebration suites, ensuring a seamless and exclusive experience throughout the celebrations,” the party said in a statement.
Similar fund raising events are often used by political parties to give business leaders and future tender bidders access to councillors, mayors, premiers, ministers, the deputy president and the president.
The MK party however does not run a single municipality, offers no tenders and has no mayors, premiers or ministers.
Its highest prize is access to Zuma, the 83-year-old former president with no access to public funds.
Other leaders of the party include its deputy president, John Hlophe, the disgraced former judge president of the Cape High Court.
It also boasts a slew of leaders who were implicated in aiding the capture of the state during Zuma’s nine years in power.
They include former Transnet boss Siyabonga Gama, former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, and former Prasa CEO Lucky Montana.
The MK party, which won over 45% of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal, is on an ongoing mission to collapse the IFP-led coalition government in KZN.
With a total annual budget of over R150-billion, taking over the provincial government would make the MK party a powerful player in South African politics.
Pictured above: Jacob Zuma.
Source: X
