"The African National Congress (ANC) is on the move and the enemy is on the run." With these remarks, ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe summed up the political mood in the country in the run-up to the 22 April 2009 elections.
Addressing a packed Madzikane Ka Zulu Memorial Grounds in the Eastern Cape's Alfred Nzo Region, Mantashe wrapped up his two-day visit to the province with a strong message: "With only 45 days left before we go to elections, we (ANC) want to prove to anyone that the liberation movement is on the offensive. The recent by-elections, which we won overwhelmingly, were a mere indication of how we deal decisively with political wannabes.
"From petitions, wars of resistance to the armed struggle, the ANC has a solid history as a movement that has brought liberation to all South Africans. The ANC is today 97 years old, been with us until today and continues with its policy to build a non-racial and non sexist South Africa where a democratically-elected majority rules."
Mantashe: "In the past 15 years of ANC rule, we have reaped fruits of democracy by bringing electricity to rural areas and built taps so that people don't have to fetch water from dams and rivers. Today there is an increase in pensions pay and parity, unlike in 1994 when black pensioners received their pensions quarterly and whites monthly. The ANC government has introduced child support grant. The ANC government plans to increase the eligibility age from 14 to 18 years. On education, no child should not go to school because of poverty at home. We plan to introduce the school feeding scheme to also benefit secondary schools.
"On health, we acknowledge that quality of health still has to be improved. Clinics in rural areas that have no nurses or medicine are not serving the community. We are also still facing challenges of high HIV/AIDS prevalence. On labour, we are committed to create decent jobs. The ANC Manifesto is very clear on our position with regards to outsourcing and labour broking which we believe should be done away with."
The ANC, said Mantashe, was committed to rural development. "We need a mandate from you on 22 April 2009 to fully implement programmes we have identified as key priority areas," he said. He also reiterated the ANC's position to create two ministries of education, for schooling and higher education.
Reacting to reports attributed to individuals "who say Nelson Mandela does not belong to any political party," Mantashe said: "Today we hear a myth that ‘Mandela does not belong to any political party'. It is Mandela, the icon of our struggle who shaped and led the ANC. It is interesting that this claim is being made by political wannabes. What we should also make clear is that the ANC leads society, not only its members. I appeal to cadres of our movement to continue to defend our movement."
Mantashe spent Saturday on a door-to-door campaign at Mzimvubu Village, met traditional leaders and engaged with the local business community at Matatiele Town Hall.
In his message to the Eastern Cape rally, South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) General Secretary Thulas Nxesi - speaking on behalf of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) - pledged workers' support for an ANC win in the polls. Nxesi said the ANC had a history in South African politics for having restored the rights of workers. "Today we do not get arrested when fighting for our rights," said Nxesi.
Nxesi: "Workers enjoy rights which were not there before. These include the right to democratic protest. We have made a call to all workers belonging to COSATU affiliated unions to defend their rights by voting for the ANC. Let all workers go and vote ANC, not for a two-thirds majority but three-thirds. Do not be confused by (Willie) Madisha who ran to COPE when he was asked to explain about money.
"We want to tell everyone here that the minority group of teachers who support COPE (Congress of the People) should not be allowed to confuse our people. We have heard of some inspectors who are abusing Government resources to carry out an electioneering campaign for COPE. We warn that we will uproot them." On the global financial crisis, Nxesi said COSATU was determined to work with Government and business to minimise any job losses.
Statement issued by the African National Congress, March 8 2009
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