Ramaphosa charms ANC supporters
Crowd gives him thumbs-up for SA’s presidency
DEPUTY president Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign to ascend to the governing party’s top job yesterday received a thumbs-up from thousands of party supporters gathered at the Sada Stadium in Chris Hani district.
Ramaphosa was in the area for the government’s anti-poverty and public employment programme (PEP) where he visited several community projects in Whittlesea and handed over tablets, computers and blankets among other things.
But his visit soon became an ANC rally during the main event in Sada where an energetic crowd chanted pro-Ramaphosa songs throughout.
Ramaphosa too could not help himself after noticing the crowd was “turning this into an ANC event” following “ANC ANC” chants upon his arrival. He followed suit by talking about the upcoming ANC policy conference later this month and the party’s national elective conference in December.
The deputy president urged party members to elect leaders who would “take South Africa to new heights” in the December conference, an appeal the crowd drowned with thunderous nguwe nguwe nguwe (that is you) chants.
“We want leaders who will not steal public money.”
Ramaphosa, who was accompanied by various national ministers, deputy ministers and Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle and his delegation of MECs, said the future of South Africa was in the hands of the ANC.
But Ramaphosa was not the only one all gung-ho about the ruling party because deputy chairman of the provincial house of traditional leaders, Prince Zolile BurnsNcamashe, had been singing the praises of the ANC, urging the crowd to ensure it “rules until Jesus comes back”.
Ramaphosa said: “Currently we are battling recession and junk status. We need leaders who will take us out of this quagmire,” and the crowd answered: “That is you!”
In December, he said the ANC Eastern Cape’s role would be: “When we get to the elective conference ANC Eastern Cape must make its presence felt where we are going to consolidate the rebuilding our movement and take the ANC out of the problems it is experiencing.
Earlier in the day, Ramaphosa visited Zamokushe Secondary School where he handed over tablets to pupils.
His next stop was the Nomaxabiso White Door Centre at the Whittlesea Police Station, who assists victims of domestic violence. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za