Limpopo’s strong rally cry for Cyril

DEPUTY PRESIDENT BAGS REGION’S VOTES

Limpopo is already celebrating victory for the country’s deputy president and ANC presidential hopeful Cyril Ramaphosa – five weeks before the ANC elective conference in December.

One of the most powerful regions in Limpopo, Vhembe, gave Ramaphosa a glittering send-off at the weekend. The region declared a “Victory for CR-17” before the party election.

“The writing is on the wall. Our very own Ramaphosa has already won the conference, hence this celebration.

“We as the region believe Ramaphosa is the incoming president of the ANC come December and the state president shortly thereafter,” the ANC regional secretary, Anderson Mudunungu, said.

Ramaphosa, who has ancestral roots in the Vhembe region, was received with traditional dances in Makhuvha stadium near Thohoyandou.

He later proceeded to Malamulele stadium, outside Tohoyandou, where he addressed 7 000 people.

Ramaphosa was given a traditional shield and a royal spear by King Mphephu Ramabulana, of the Vha-Venda Kingdom, during the festivities.

Ramaphosa is far ahead of his closest competitor, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for the party leadership as far as Limpopo goes.

The former trade unionist has become a popular choice in his home province, where he received 71 ANC branch nominations in Vhembe against Dlamini-Zuma’s three, while in Sekhukhune, Ramaphosa had 84 branch nominations with Dlamini-Zuma getting nine. In the Mopani region, where Dlamini-Zuma’s camp won the region, Ramaphosa had 34 nominations against 21 for Dlamini-Zuma.

In the Peter Mokaba region, where the capital Polokwane is situated, Ramaphosa had 36 nominations while Dlamini Zuma had one. Nominations in the Waterberg region were still pending.