"Please tell somebody to translate the machine gun song, because its tough to keep up in our Afrikaans," businessman Dirk van den Berg told Zuma in Bloemfontein.

The president was in the Free state as part of the ANC's Siyabonga campaign to say thank you to voters after the party's election victory.

The ice was further broken at a meeting between Zuma, businessmen and minority groups when Van Den Berg followed up his request by asking Zuma if the machine gun was licensed.

Zuma was urged to announce his visits to the province earlier, so that a hunting trip could be organised.

In reply, the President offered to get a translator to his office as soon as he reported for work on Monday to translate Umshini Wam.

"Bring die masjien geveer [Bring the machine gun]," Zuma said, as he was helped with an Afrikaans title for the struggle song which became his trademark.

He added that the song might sound nice in Afrikaans.

The discussions had its serious moments when an orphaned matric girl asked Zuma where she could ask for help if she wanted to further her studies next year.

"How do they [orphans], [how am] I going to go forward," she asked the president.

Zuma suggested that orphans who wanted to study further should put their names on a register at the premiers office.

He alluded to similar orphan desks being created at every premier's office in the country as well as in the presidency.

"We cannot allow that skilled people end up not having support," Zuma said.

An open invitation was made to the business community to use the phone number set up in the presidency.

"If you find it difficult to access government or anybody and you are met with frustration, phone the president," said Zuma, responding to questions on where people who could create jobs could access government for help.

Zuma also told the group at the City Hall that no one in government was sure of their jobs if they did not deliver.

"The ministers know if they do not work, they are not going to stay. The same with premiers, MECs, everybody."

Zuma was expected to address a Siyabonga rally at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal at 2pm.

Sapa

It's JZ, leave a message... "Hi, this is Zuma. You know what to do. No, no... not the machine gun. Leave a message..."

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