Publication: Sunday Times Issued: Date: 2006-02-12 Reporter: Chris Barron

George Nene: Devoted Spporter of Jacob Zuma

 

Publication 

Sunday Times

Date

2006-02-12

Reporter

 Chris Barron

Web Link

www.sundaytimes.co.za

 

George Nene, who died in a car accident last week at the age of 58, achieved brief fame as the Gauteng regional chairman of the Friends of Jacob Zuma.

The organisation was started in the wake of a statement by the then head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Bulelani Ngcuka, that he had prima facie evidence that Zuma had been involved in corruption.

Ngcuka’s refusal to press charges against the former deputy president enraged his supporters *1ho felt he was the victim of a conspiracy to stop him becoming president.

Nene, a trade unionist turned labour consultant, and one of Zuma’s most fervent admirers, started the Gauteng region of the Friends of Jacob Zuma in October 2005.

His efforts to rally support and collect money for Zuma’s defence against corruption charges were dealt a severe blow when Zuma was charged with rape in December.

Attendance at meetings organised by Nene plummeted to 20 ­ from a high of about 2000.

But Nene’s own support for Zuma never wavered. Although he denied that any money collected by the Friends of Jacob Zuma would be used for Zuma’s defence against the rape charge, at the time of his death he was organising a picket in support of Zuma outside the Johannesburg High Court, where the rape trial begins tomorrow.

Friends of Jacob Zuma officials have voiced suspicion about the circumstances surrounding Nene’s death, and have asked the police to investigate.

Nene, who was born in Vryheid, in KwaZulu-Natal, on March 13 1947, is survived by his five children.

With acknowledgements to Chris Barron and Sunday Times.


*1  Then Ngcuka’s successor's decision to press charges against the former deputy president enraged his supporters.