Lerato Mbhiza
The ANC launched its manifesto in Durban at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday with the ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa promising to keep South Africans safe from crime in the next five years.
Some of the key priorities announced by Ramaphosa are to reduce crime, corruption, and bring services in the country.
Ramaphosa said that in the next five years, the ANC will take a comprehensive approach to fighting crime through the Integrated Violence and Crime Prevention Strategy.
He added that this will be done through modernising policing with more frontline police officers.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said, during the release of the third quarter crime statistics that between October and December last year, 7 710 people were murdered, an increase of 155 from the same period in the previous year.
The majority of the top 30 stations where murder was most reported were in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape.
Highlighting the critical role of communities in preventing crime and gender-based violence through adequate resourcing of Community Policing Forums, Ramaphosa said the government would develop capabilities to combat cybercrime, essential infrastructure crimes, illegal firearms, gang violence, crime syndicates, human and drug trafficking, and corruption.
Ramaphosa said the ANC will treat corruption as a crime against the people and promised to improve public accountability, investigation, and prosecution capabilities and consequences for corrupt activities in the public and private spheres.
The party is launching its manifesto in KwaZulu-Natal, where its former president Jacob Zuma, who now leads an opposition party called UMkhonto Wesizwe, has also been working hard to garner votes.
In a stadium filled to the brim, Ramaphosa also promised to continue to promote and defend the rights of all South Africans against racism, sexism, gender-based violence, homophobia, discrimination, and other intolerances.
“This means we must remain resolute in advancing the rights and dignity of children, older persons, persons living with disability, the LGBTQI, the youth and continue the fight for women’s emancipation and a truly non-sexist society, as part of our constitutional commitment to consistent equality,” he said .
The Moses Mabhida stadium was filled to capacity at about 11 am. on Saturday, a few hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa was scheduled to deliver the ANC’s election manifesto.
Thousands of party supporters gathered at the 56,000 seater stadium and the adjoining People’s Park has been converted into an overflow area for more supporters.
Some ANC supporters used the gathering to express their displeasure with Zuma, with anti-Zuma songs and placards showing “RIP ZUMA”.
Ramaphosa said the ANC will invest in people by improving access to quality education and health, expanding the use of science and technology, and ensuring all people have decent housing and basic services.
“We will continue to work together to ensure South Africans live long and healthy lives and that all people, regardless of their income, receive quality healthcare,”
“We will strengthen the overall health system by continuing to invest in the building and maintenance of hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities, as well as providing relevant and effective training for healthcare professionals” he said .
He added that the ANC will develop a single electronic health record that will enable a seamless experience for all users of public and private health care.
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