Cape Town – Western Cape Helen Zille was booed by sections of the crowd when she appeared on stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival free concert in Greenmarket Square.
Twitter erupted with comments after certain sections of the crowd booed the Western Cape Premier until she left the stage.
It was also reported that sections of the crowd, after booing, chanted “Cape Times! Cape Times!”
Earlier this month, Zille was widely criticised after the Western Cape government made a decision for government departments not to renew Cape Times subscriptions. Zille defended the move.
Zille responded by saying she had no idea she was being booed.
Audience member Michelle Steenkamp tweeted from ?@Mishdish02::So speechless after @helenzille got boooood of the stage in Green market square at @CTJazzFest #3rdworldProblems #capetownjazzfestival2015”
Zille replied: “I truly didn’t hear any of that. I just felt fun and warm vibes. And I certainly only saw friendly faces.”
The conversation continued when Steenkamp replied: “Well in that case it’s good you didn’t hear anything, just maybe an insight going forward… Enjoy your evening.”
Zille then asked for more information: “That’s interesting because I could see the crowd clearly and only friendly faces. Where was the problem area?”
Steenkamp responded, voicing the experience of many other concert-goers who tweeted similar comments: “I’m just saying what I heard all around me and it shocked me.”
Comedian Siv Ngesi weighed in during the concert: “Sjo they booed Zille at the free jazz show like she was Zuma at the Madiba memorial!”
But Zille’s last comment on the matter was adamant that the crowd in front had only support for her.
