The African National Congress has a responsibility to embrace former members who want to rejoin the organisation, the party's Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said today.
Addressing about 5000 ruling party supporters at a rally in Thembalethu Stadium in George (Western Cape), Mantashe said reconciliation and unity had always been at the centre of the ANC's principles and values.
"Since 1912, the ANC's objective has always been to unite the people of South Africa - we have a responsibility to unite our people. When those who left come back, we will accept them," he said.
Mantashe also used the event to officially welcome seven new members, including Velile Waxa, Makrostile Doyile, Aubrey Tshengwa and Mbali Sakhele, all of whom had resigned from the ANC to contest as independent candidates in the previous by-elections.
He said the fact that most of the defectors where now rejoining the organisation was proof there were no divisions within the ruling party. "What happened within the ANC was that there were differences among members - not divisions," he said.
Accompanied by ANC National Executive Member Nomvula Mokonyane and Provincial Elections Task Team coordinator, Chris Nissen, Mantashe also dismissed speculations that opposition parties could govern at least four provinces through coalitions after the April 22 elections.
"Suggestions by some analysts that a coalition of opposition parties could dislodge the ANC from power in four provinces is a pipe dream," he said.
He said the ruling party was not aiming at governing through a coalition but for an outright victory, even in provinces such as the Western Cape.
Unlike opposition parties, who have already thrown in the towel by reducing themselves to provincial parties, the ANC was confident that it will increase its current two thirds majority in the coming elections.
"Voters take our manifesto seriously because they know our track record and are certain that we will be in government after the April 22 elections. Ours is not a manifesto of promises but commitments," he said.
He added: "The ANC was the only political party that can confidently say to voters, we have managed to spread the social security net to protect millions of our citizens trapped in poverty; we have build more than 3 million houses for the poor and extended child grant benefits to more than 8 million children. As a result our people know that there was no better political party in South Africa than the ANC," he said.
Mantashe's address was a culmination of a two day elections campaign trail in the region.
Earlier today, the Secretary General attended a church service at the AGS Church in Pacaltsdorp, George.
Yesterday he went on door to door visits in Kranshoek, Kurland and New Horizons, and addressed community members in Kwanokuthula.
Statement issued by the African National Congress March 15 2009
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