Manifesto launch descends into inconvenient chaos

What was meant to be an opportunity for the ANC to share its vision for the future with the people of the Eastern Cape degenerated into chaos and ended with a senior ruling party member committing a serious faux pas. The party’s provincial manifesto launch in KwaBhaca in the Alfred Nzo region made national headlines at the weekend – and not for the right reasons.

A disgruntled group of ANC members wearing party regalia disrupted treasurer-general Paul Mashatile’s speech when they stormed the tent, singing struggle songs and holding up placards bemoaning the dismal state of service delivery in the ANC-run region.

And then Eastern Cape ANC executive member and communications minister Stella NdabeniAbrahams scored an own goal when she tried to stop the media from focusing on the disruption.

“Why would you give coverage to people who are out of order,” she asked while attempting to block journalists.

Her attempts at media censorship were strongly condemned by Sanef, who have requested a meeting with the minister.

She has since apologised for her actions, assuring her “unreserved commitment to media freedom”.

The group’s protest has been described by some in the ANC as “silliness” and “ill-discipline”.

Party provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi, who last week boldly proclaimed that disunity in the party was no more, said they had chosen Alfred Nzo because they “wanted to talk to people of that area so we can understand their challenges and intervene”.

The people have now spoken and taken their issues to the top leadership, perhaps not in the way the ANC had hoped. While it may be inconvenient for the ANC to have their party crashed, residents complaining about not having access to adequate sanitation, water or electricity, among many other issues, is not “silly”.

It is an election year and protests are flaring up across the province. The protests should not be seen as an attempt to derail campaigns, but as fedup residents telling those in power that they want a better life – the life they have been promised.

The group’s protest has been described by some in the ANC as ‘silliness’ and ‘ill-discipline’