Posters promoting the event promised an appearance by Rebecca Malope, the biggest drawcard on the bill – if you ignore Malema himself.

The crowd consists mostly of elderly people. In more than one hour The Daily Maverick failed to identify a single school-aged child in the crowd, and marshals were resolute in their determination to turn any children away. Not that they needed to do so; few seem to have even turned up to try their luck.

Scores of police, several times as many marshals and no fewer than five ambulances were in attendance.

Among the gifts Malema will receive is two giant portraits of him, by Emmanuel Setlhasane, who says he knew Malema when both went to school here.

“He knew I was doing [the portraits], but he didn’t know they’d be here today,” said Setlhasane.

By Phillip de Wet

Photos: The Daily Maverick

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