TOKYO ON ANC CAMPAIGN
I never make promises I can ’ t keep, says minister
IF Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale had been coy about his presidential ambitions, yesterday he made clear his designs for the top job when he told a community in Mthatha that he was a leader who tells no lies”.
“Sexwale jetted into Mthatha, Eastern Cape, early yesterday morning to begin his two-day campaign blitz in the ANC’s second biggest province where he charmed communities.
Sexwale put on an award-winning performance and had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands as he addressed a crowd of a few hundred residents at the dilapidated municipal flats in Norwood, outside the city centre.
Tuning into presidential mode, Sexwale listened to the community’s problems and promised to help resolve them.
Their main gripe was the failure of the provincial government and the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality’s dilly-dallying in transferring ownership of the flats to their occupants.
“If there’s one thing about me that you should know... I never make promises I can’t keep. (Other) leaders make promises they cannot (fulfil)
“I want this municipality to explain... I want to sit down with this municipality.
“I know the solution... I’m wondering why people are not solving it. It’s a simple problem,” said Sexwale, suggesting that ownership be transferred to the flats’ occupants as it happened to other townships like Soweto.
Sexwale said he was “a child of Mandela ... a child of Chris Hani” and lived up to both leaders’ ideals.
The residents were truly impressed and broke into song, “uTokyo unobubele ngathi, wasithath ’ etipini wasibeke eflethini” [Tokyo cares for us, he took us from the dumpsite and put us up in the (municipal) flats].
His next stop was the Mandela informal settlement where he met ward committees to hear housing issues in the area.
He later emerged to address community members assembled inside a marquee in a dusty sports field. They had been invited by an organiser, with a loud-hailer, mounted on the back of a bakkie.
Sexwale continued his charm offensive telling them that he was a leader who listened. “A leader doesn’t just go in head first, he first listens. I will not make promises ... but I will leave you with these words, we will not let you down,” he said to applause.
Sexwale was later received by the household of Inkosi Bovulengwe Mtirara where they slaughtered a sheep to welcome him. Mtirara was joined by his headmen.
Today he will address the launch of the youth month in Queenstown where he is invited by the youth league in the Chris Hani region.