Charles Molele
ANC KwaZulu Natal provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala has dismissed fears that the party’s president Cyril Ramaphosa would be barred from going to Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Ramaphosa is expected to deliver a keynote address at the party’s manifesto launch on Saturday.
Zikalala said media reports at the weekend saying that Ramaphosa was not allowed in KZN, but said they then called Ramaphosa and said to him, ‘President, you are invited here, come and campaign.’
He said it was untrue that Ramaphosa was barred from going to Moses Mabhida Stadium, adding that he was there last week (anyway).
“All branches of the ANC in KZN are united behind the ANC leadership led by Ramaphosa,” Zikalala assured the media and ANC supporters attending the ANC’s 107thbirthday celebrations at Ohlange Institute in Inanda, eThekwini.
Ramaphosa’s speech received a lukewarm reception from ANC KZN supporters with some sections of the crowd chanting ‘Zuma, Zuma, Zuma’ after his January 8 Statement. Former President Jacob Zuma accompanied Ramaphosa to the January 8 celebrations in Inanda, attended by various ANC NEC members including ANC’s Head of Elections, Fikile Mbalula.
Ramaphosa told party supporters at the rally that he was working with Zuma to show the real face of unity that the ANC was committed to since the elective conference in Nasrec in Gauteng.
Ramaphosa said Zuma’s presence at the rally was a show of unity.
“We want to reassure the great leaders of the ANC and our past presidents… that we shall not rest,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa thanked Zuma for handing the baton on to him, as it has been handed to him by those who came before him such as ‘John Langalibalele Dube .. Sefako Makgatho, Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Zuma’.
“As we celebrate this anniversary, we must agree that one of the most important organisational tasks of the year is to intensify the renewal of our movement. All leaders and members should focus their efforts on strengthening unity and working together to address challenges facing communities,” said Ramaphosa.
“Our branches must be strong organs of civil society that reflect the broader composition of communities where they are located and that lead in addressing community concerns. We will work more diligently to ensure that factionalism, gatekeeping, patronage and other deviant practices are eradicated.”
Ramaphosa said the ANC was the only organisation in the country committed to improving the lives of the people.
“Most significant have been the changes in the everyday lives of ordinary South Africans. In 1994, only 3 in every 10 South Africans had electricity. Today, 8 out of 10 South Africans have electricity in their homes. In 1994, only 6 out of every 10 South Africans had access to clean drinking water. Today, that has increased to nearly 9 out 10 South Africans. In that time, over 3.2 million houses have been built for poor families. What lies behind these statistics is a country that has been transformed, lives that have been changed, and opportunities that have been opened. It has enabled millions of children to study by electric light,” Ramaphosa said.
He said better living conditions meant that families were now healthier.
“We have built new clinics and hospitals and expanded access to health care for the poor,” he said.
“More South Africans are living longer, with average live expectancy increasing to 64 years in 2018 from a low of 53 years in 2005. More than 4.3 million South Africans living with HIV receive antiretroviral treatment, making it the biggest such programe in the world. Today, the ANC government provides social grants to 17.5 million poor and vulnerable people.”
Ramaphosa added that the ANC was going to implement the land expropriation without compensation (EWC) policy.
“We are now embarking on a new phase of accelerated land reform,” he told ANC supporters.
Shortly after his speech, Ramaphosa and Zuma, along with other senior members of the ANC, then proceeded to cut the cake celebrating the ANC’s 107th birthday.
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