Jacob Zuma got the crowd to its feet by singing Awulethu’ Mshini Wami (Bring me my Machine Gun)

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President Jacob Zuma told ANC supporters not to throw away their vote, as he campaigned in Soweto ahead of the May local government elections.

Speaking in Zulu, Zuma said it was very important to vote for a party that was going to win. Any other vote would be a “silent vote”, he said.

Although in Soweto, he had a message for the Western Cape: “It (Cape Town) is so entrenched in apartheid. Die tyd het gekom  (the time has come),” Zuma told hundreds of ANC supporters at the Hector Pieterson memorial.

Zuma then got the crowd to its feet by singing Awulethu’ Mshini Wami (Bring me my Machine Gun).

He was accompanied by ANC MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and other  ANC officials.

Madikizela-Mandela earlier screamed “Viva ANC Youth League, Viva” to the crowd. She has been at ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s side since the start of his hate speech trial.

Zuma then visited the house of former president Nelson Mandela in Vilakazi Street where some people began singing “Awudubhule Ibhunu” (Shoot the Boer). Afrikaner interest group AfriForum has taken Malema to court, contending his singing the song constitutes hate speech.

Zuma was expected to go to Maponya mall to interact with Soweto residents next.