Ramaphosa stresses unity of the ANC

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has gone to great lengths this week to stress the unity of the ruling party despite the divisions that still exist. Ramaphosa and the rest of the ANC’s national executive committee have visited different parts of KwaZulu-Natal to drum up support for the launch of their manifesto on Saturday.

And while Ramaphosa uses the words unity consistently, he also acknowledges there are problems that still persist. On Tuesday, he told supporters that while the party had been decisive in certain areas, their task is incomplete.

“We have reached a stage where we have to act with urgency and purpose. We will address division and dysfunction.”

It is refreshing to hear Ramaphosa acknowledge the faults in the ruling party and by extension the faults in local and national government. Saturday’s manifesto will be a test of Ramaphosa’s commitment to restore the credibility of the ANC.

He has stated that the party has taken “bold steps to confront corruption and to restore the credibility of public institutions” and millions of South Africans will want a greater spirit of accountability and responsibility.

This will be crucial if Ramaphosa is to lift the country out of the economic mire and if he is to fulfil his promise of generating economic growth and faster progress.