Photos: Eddie Mtsweni
Charles Molele
President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the ANC’s mistakes under his predecessor in the last decade, but vowed to restore the integrity of the party after the polls.
Ramaphosa was speaking at the party’s Siyanqoba rally, which was held at the 62,000-capacity Ellis Park Stadium ahead of the 2019 general elections on Wednesday 8 May.
“We acknowledge the mistakes we have made,” Ramaphosa told the party’s supporters.
“We recognise how patronage and corruption have eroded the people’s trust and confidence, and how they have undermined our ability to serve the interests of all South Africans. That is why we have been working hard to restore the integrity of our movement. We have been working to rebuild structures that are in touch with the people and which take forward the struggles of communities.
“We are working to ensure that public representatives serve their communities diligently, selflessly and honestly. We are working to restore the ANC to an organisation worthy of leaders like Chief Albert Luthuli, Moses Kotane, Lilian Ngoyi, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Dulcie September, Elijah Barayi, Albertina Sisulu, Chris Hani and Joe Slovo. The people of South Africa expect and demand nothing less. Today is a call to action.”
Political parties of all stripes held their final rallies this weekend ahead of what will be Africa’s largest exercise in democracy to ensure the voices of hundreds of millions of South Africans across the country are heard through the ballot.
This will be the biggest ever election after 1994 with a total of 48 registered political parties and more than 1,000 candidates courting voters across the political divide.
Thousands of ANC supporters arrived as early as 7am at the stadium in buses, German sedans and high-powered motorbikes.
The ANC is seeking a two-thirds majority after poor results during the 2014 general elections.
Ramaphosa, flanked by the party’s top brass including his deputy David Mabuza, secretary general Ace Magashule, treasurer general Paul Mashatile and national chairperson Gwede Mantashe, said the era of impunity was over.
“We are now entering the era of accountability,” said Ramaphosa.
He said his administration would also deal decisively with corruption and state capture.
“We are now entering the era of accountability. We are now entering the era of consequence,” said Ramaphosa.
He said he has already taken decisive steps to fight corruption across society.
“The Zondo Commission is uncovering the nature and extent of state capture,” said Ramaphosa.
“We have done much to restore the credibility and effectiveness of the NPA, SARS, SAPS and the State Security Agency. But the road ahead is long and there is still much more to do. We should expect resistance from those who have benefited from wrongdoing. But let there be no doubt – those responsible for state capture and corruption will be held to account. We are restoring the rule of law. The police and prosecutors will be further strengthened and their independence will be assured, so that they can act against those who are corrupt without fear or favour. We are determined that those found guilty of corruption or involvement in state capture will not be allowed to occupy positions of responsibility, either in the ANC, in Parliament or in government.”
