Agang SA Launches National Election Campaign Restoring the Promise of Freedom
Johannesburg - Saturday 16th November - Agang SA launched its national election campaign in Johannesburg today with a call to voters to help oust the governing party in next year's elections.
"Citizens, said party leader, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, "never before have we been faced with a more important opportunity than now. The 2014 election is an opportunity to raise your voices and say No to the way the ANC is shamefully running this country."
The crowd of 600 members gathered at Atlas Studios in Milpark, responded to their leader with a resounding "Enough is Enough!"
Dr Ramphele said it was an opportunity for five million fist-time voters to exercise their civic right to have their voices heard. "This is the first time young people are the majority and can and must shape the future they can be proud of," she said to shouts of approval from the crowd, who were wearing their new green T-shirts, bedecked with the party's new multi-coloured logo for the first time.
It was a chance for the 13 million people who were so disillusioned that they failed to cast their vote in the last election, she told members who had come who had come from Tshwane, the Vaal, East Rand and Johannesburg CBD to be part of the campaign launch and to celebrate the new party logo.
"Our colourful circle is inclusive of all the people of South Africa, where everybody is equal," said Dr. Ramphele. "You will notice the colours of our flag - because we are proud of what South Africa was promised when it was designed and raised jubilantly from flagpoles across our country at the dawn of our democracy."
"It's eleven triangles represent our many official languages - a symbolic gesture that says Agang SA is for everybody.
"Green is the colour of growth and represents our commitment to make sure we look after our natural resources so that we will always have clean water, good food and beauty - and there will be enough, for all, forever."
She was flanked on stage by some of the party's leaders and prominent members including Mills Soko, policy and campaign director; Moeketsi Mosola, political director; Monica Graaff, marketing director and convernor of the policy group on sustainability and environment; Thabo Leshilo, communications director; Leandi Erasmus, national field director; Rorisang Tshabalala, deputy field director and convenor of the national youth forum; Vanessa Hani, convenor of the women's forum; Garth Towel, former CEO of Kimberly Clark SA in charge of stakeholder management; Sam Njela, Eastern Cape organizer; Pule Pule, Gauteng organizer, Mzwandile Manjiya, former president of the United Independent Front; Andrew Arnolds, former deputy mayor of Cape Town; Monica Brown, former mayoral candidate of the Independent Democrats (ID) for Mossel Bay, Danny Ross former provincial leader of the ID in the Western Cape, and Andrew Gasnolar, a World Economic Forum young global leader, and former DA member.
Dr Ramphele emphasized that the party's key campaign areas were a stand for clean government, excellent health care and education, safety and security, and job creation.
"It is possible to give our youth excellent education so that they will be equipped to enter the jobs they dream of. It is a matter of political will," she said.
The party then took its campaign to key townships in the province, in a convoy led by an open-deck campaign bus, reaching thousands of members and supporters along the way.
First stop was Freedom Square in Eldorado Park, Soweto, where Ramphele addressed an enthusiastic crowd about the importance of voting for change in the upcoming elections. Speaking in Sepedi, she urged especially the women and young people to take up the challenge of making South Africa the country of their dreams: "Mma ngwana o swara thipa ka bogaleng. Ke e tshwere thipa. Nthusheng" "A mother holds the sharp end of a knife (if necessary to protect her children). I'm holding the sharp end of the knife. Help me."
The entourage then moved to a branch launch in Tshepisong, West Rand. Ramphele received a rousing welcome by a crowd of about 800. She urged them to vote for the future, not the past and for what is good for the country and the economy.
She said unemployed people, especially the youth, should be given the necessary training to make them employable.
She said the country was wealthy enough to make that possible, if only we it could tackle the problem of rampant corruption. She also spoke about the need for proper health care, safety and security and clean government and active citizenship.
"We are a party that belongs to all people in South Africa - every single one of us that wants to join our renewed struggle for freedom. Do the right thing. Exercise your sacred duty and responsibility to make sure our country is in a fit state to hand over to the next generation."
From there the Agang SA bus was to visit Diepsloot, bringing its message of support to the community, which has been besieged by violent crime, including horrific child rapes and murders. Agang SA has a ground swell of support among Diepsloot residents, with its call for a professional, competent police service that works within a human rights ethos, as well its call for clean and competent government.
The final stop on the bus tour at Natalspruit Hospital taxi Rank in Katlehong, comes before a return to Auckland Park for a party for Agang SA members to celebrate the National Election Campaign under the banner of "Restoring the Promise of Freedom".
The party subsequently announced its new election campaign advisory panel headed by former government whistleblower Mike Tshishonga; Pule Monama, Azapo founder member and Limpopo businessman; Kai-Lie Chen, a lawyer; Frank van der Velde, former mayor of Cape Town; Kathleen Oosthuizen, former DA provincial director in the Free State; Angela Pitsi, and Garth Towell.
The political backgrounds of a selection of the Agang SA team are included below.
Andrew Arnolds
Former Deputy Mayor of the City of Cape Town & Former Member of Provincial Parliament of the Western Cape
Neville Hendricks
Former member of National Council of Provinces (NCOP)
Former Deputy President of the United Independent Front
Mwandile Manjiya
Former member of Western Cape Provincial Legislature
Former President of the United Independent Front
Danny Rass
Former chairperson of the ANC Mitchell's Plain
Candidate Councillor Mitchell's Plain
Lucinda Evans
Director of Philisa Abafazi Bethu Women and Children's Program
Former Shoprite Women of the Year
Nokwazi Kula
Former DA Secretary in Mfuleni Branch
Manduleli (Mandu) Mzayiya
Former Western Cape Secretary and Chairperson of AZAPO
Former SRC Deputy President at UWC
Monica Brown
CEO of SCREAM and Identi Masses
Malusi Ulana
Former ANCYL Deputy Chair for Ward 95
Former Kuyasa branch Treasurer
Adele Campbell
Former Independent Democrats - Ward 68
Statement issued by Agang SA National Press Office, November 16 2013
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