Ramaphosa courts Juju
Several top ANC officials came out this weekend saying they want EFF leader Julius Malema back in the party. ‘He is still the ANC down deep in his heart,’ said party president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Shoppers and their children had their phones at the ready in excitement, waiting for a chance to grab a picture with President Cyril Ramaphosa, who surprised them with his visit to Forest Hill City Mall in Centurion yesterday.
Parents and their infants pushed through the crowd, with many throwing their babies in the arms of the delighted ANC leader.
Ramaphosa was visiting Pretoria to urge citizens to register to vote in next year’s general elections. He was joined by Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Tshwane ANC leader and former mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa.
“I’ll only take a picture with you if your camera is ready,” Ramaphosa said squeezing past his bodyguards, the media, ANC supporters and shoppers.
But prior to his warm welcome at the mall, he was met by disgruntled residents of Olievenhoutbosch, who had been picketing outside the Hope Restoration Church.
They demanded the president address the need for proper housing, roads and an increased police presence in the area.
Trying to calm the rowdy crowd, Ramaphosa assured them that Makhura would return to meet with the community on Thursday to address their issues.
“We have seen the conditions you are living in and we see you are struggling. It is not desirable.
“We see you live in shacks, you don’t have water and I saw that some of you don’t even have electricity.
“We have heard clearly that many of you don’t have jobs. We noticed that you need houses and help against crime.
“There is no problem without a solution. There is a solution. As government, we are going to solve the problem,” he said.
Ramaphosa also attended church services at the Covenant Church in Olievenhoutbosch and Itireleng Baptist Church in Laudium, where he spoke about the importance of the church in the ANC.
Ramaphosa ended off his visit at a Centurion shisa nyama, sitting down for a hot lunch of pap, chakalaka, steak, chicken and coleslaw.
Surrounded by ANC supporters, the smiling president said he had spent two “extremely wonderful days” going to various voting registration stations in the province.
“I came across a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of energy among our people. People are full of hope and wherever I went, without me saying anything, they said ‘this is a new dawn’ and ‘we want you to send us. Thuma thina. Send us wherever you want. We are energised and want to contribute to the development and success of our country’. I guess they will be able to do so through their vote,” Ramaphosa said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa went on an election drive in Pretoria yesterday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to various public places in the country’s capital of Pretoria drew widespread attention yesterday as he embarked on an election drive encouraging South Africans to register to vote for the 2019 national elections.
Ramaphosa urged citizens to update their registration details with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) .
He met people from all walks of life throughout the city and spent time shaking hands, posing for selfies and holding babies.
Through his tour of the city, the public followed Ramaphosa from a mall to a shisa nyama spot and even a taxi rank.
The Citizen seized the opportunity to speak to ordinary South Africans about why they feel it is important to vote for and who they feel is suitable as their future leader.
One thing was made clear by all those we spoke to, they realise that by voting they are making their voices heard in bringing about change in South Africa. “The last time I didn’t vote, but this year I’m going to [register to] vote because Ramaphosa is Venda and I’m Venda. So, honey, I love him! He’s educated so I’m definitely voting this year.” “I never registered before, but I’ve registered to vote now and I’m very happy about it. I think we need to vote because we need change in South Africa now and everything new comes with its own challenges, advantages and disadvantages. But I have a good feeling that this time Mzansi is going to be one of the best countries!” “I voted before in the previous elections, I think it’s important to vote because you can choose the party that you feel is right to lead the country. It’s important that every South African votes because your vote counts, it is actually your voice and so I believe you should vote for a party that holds your beliefs. We all want economic freedom, I think that’s a big struggle, so I will vote towards that: leaders who make a commitment to lead us to economic freedom.” “I registered to vote in the previous elections and I’m going to vote this time again. I think its important to vote because my vote counts, it can make a difference.” “I still have to register to vote but I will do it on my cellphone through SMS. I think it’s important that everyone votes because we live in a democratic country, so we have to go to school and get educated because education is the most important thing. I think that’s what the vote will do for us.” “I voted before, and I will definitely vote now. I feel like I should have a say in whatever is going on in the country, so that I can have an impact in any decision that is going to be taken. I think everyone should vote because we have different opinions and we look at things differently, so I think everyone should express themselves through voting.” “I voted in the previous elections and I want to register to vote now for the next elections. I think it’s important that everyone votes so they can have their say and to practise their democratic rights.” “I’ve been voting since 2008 and I look forward to voting in next year’s elections. I think in the next elections there are more reasons to vote than not to. I think the most important thing is that you want to make your voice count, you don’t want to sit there on your social media and have a loud voice if you are given the opportunity to make it count on the [voting] stand. I think, more importantly for us young people, we are very vocal on social media, but do we really turn out and participate where we need to make our voices heard?” –