We are not interested in coalition talks, says Mbalula
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says his party is not interested in coalition talks as it is focusing on getting an overwhelming victory come May 29.
Mbalula was replying to DA leader John Steenhuisen’s proposal of entering into a coalition with the ANC after the elections.
“I am not working for a coalition; John is working for it. I am working for victory, an outright victory, so those who are working for a coalition are experts on what would happen.
“Where am I? I am working and we are working for outright majority. Let John think about coalition, I think about victory,” the ANC SG explained.
Steenhuisen had shared his willingness to form a coalition with the ANC after the elections.
However, Mbalula said the ANC was not worried about opposition parties; his movement accounts to the people on commitments it has previously made, and reports progress on their implementation.
“We have been campaigning in the Free State. At no point do we see any other political party campaigning here. All we see is their posters, but we see none of them on the ground. The only thing we are focused on is victory.”
Mbalula said since he started campaigning in the Free State, he had not seen any opposition party apart from the ANC campaigning on the ground. “There were other organisations’ posters but no people on the ground. I am on the ground doing door to door here in Meqheleng in Ficksburg. I am talking to people of Meqheleng and we have been touching base with them more than 10 times now. So we are not worried about opposition parties.
“We will see the score boards on May 29. We are not worried, we account to our people. And it’s that time of accountability where we ask our people to give us their vote, and that will give us an overwhelming victory for the ANC,” Mbalula added.
The Free State would be fiercely contested as the former provincial chairperson and secretary-general of the ANC, Ace Magashule’s African Congress for Transformation Movement (ACT) was making massive strides in various parts of the province.
Former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s African Content Movement (ACM,) was also making inroads in the province, and recently established base in the Motheo region.
ACM national organiser Sello Shabalala said the party was being received well by the people in the area as they no longer have an alternative.
“The community of both Thaba Mchunu and Botshabelo have welcomed ACM into their homes, and they are willing to give us a chance.
“So far, we are doing very well and I am confident that we will shake your traditional ‘big parties’ in the province and might even win the province.”
Thabo Malebo, a resident of Thaba-Nchu, said he would give ACM a chance to see what it would bring to the table as he has lost hope in the governing party. “I am going to give Hlaudi a chance. I believe he will make changes. His track record at the SABC speaks volumes. Anyone who still doubts him is delusional.”