Jacob Zuma record deal: Suspicions raised over album inconsistencies

You can't see Barack Obama releasing a rap mixtape. You can't envisage David Cameron putting out a swing LP. Hell, even Vladimir Putin isn't weird enough to release his own album. But this is South Africa; and the concept of ex-president Jacob Zuma getting a record deal somewhat makes sense.

What does not make sense, however, is the fact that the deal itself is reported to have cost the eThekwini Municipality upwards of R20 million. It's money that is ready to be diverted from essential service delivery funding, and the arts and culture programmes that give real citizens hope.

Jacob Zuma record deal: eThekwini Municipality questioned Last week, Phumzille van Damme - an official DA spokesperson on corruption - visited a performing arts centre in the KZN-based metropolitan area. She found that millions of rands of funding for the BAT Community Arts Development and Cultural Entertainment Centre had recently been pulled.

Now, the DA are stepping up their case against the local arm of government. Nicole Graham is the party's caucus leader in eThekwini, and she's slammed the ANC-run district for their inconsistencies over this record deal.

She believes the department are saying one thing about the zany agreement, but doing something completely different. Graham is concerned that the wildly-unpredictable Thembinkosi Ngcobo is running the show, when the city manager has been asked to keep a lid on things:

We are concerned with the inconsistencies from the City of eThekwini, regarding former President Jacob Zuma's record deal'.

The DA had written to City Manager, Sipho Nzuza, highlighting that this item had not been approved or considered by the eThekwini Council. Nzuza was encouraged to reign in Parks Unit Head, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, and put a stop to this ridiculous plan.

His response was that a report would be prepared by the responsible Deputy City Manager and presented to the Full Council. Despite this, Ngcobo has publicly announced that the project will go ahead and that auditions will be held for back-up singers.

Nicole Graham Details of the Zuma album Msholozi has often impressed crowds with his singing voice, if not with his leadership. The details of the album have revealed he will be singing a collection of struggle songs. However, some so-called facts about the record have been a little stretched.

Ngcobo has previously claimed that Ladysmith Black Mambazo were ready to collaborate with the former president. But that's a line the group have vehemently denied. Looks like it's easier to capture a state than a Grammy Award-winning artist, right?

Tags: eThekwini municipalityJacob ZumamusicSouth Africa

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