Don't let any other party run Gauteng, Zuma tells ANC supporters
Johannesburg - All members of the ruling party must ensure that the ANC does not lose Gauteng as its headquarters, President Jacob Zuma told thousands of supporters gathered at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
"Gauteng is the home of the ANC. Gauteng must remain the home of the ANC," Zuma said in a stern and matter-of-fact address.
He said, although the party had been formed in Mangaung, its headquarters had been Gauteng throughout all its years of existence.
"In no way can we have another party in charge of Gauteng. You, therefore, have a very serious responsibility to maintain the home of this mighty organisation."
Zuma emphasised that the ANC needed to win the upcoming local government elections across the country, but highlighted Gauteng as being the most important.
Just before Zuma addressed the crowd around 15:30 on Saturday afternoon, Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced that the party had managed to pull 85 350 ANC supporters to the provincial manifesto launch.
However, after the entertainment had ended and the official programme was underway, a considerable number of supporters could be seen making their way out of the stadium, leaving visibly large open spaces before Zuma was set to address them.
Despite this, Zuma continued to praise the successes of the three metros in the province: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. "Gauteng metros continue to shine and the response of international ratings agency indicate that our metros are run efficiently and effectively. We are ready to take this performance forward."
He said the party would continue with this success over the next five years as well. "We are the only organisation with tried and tested policies and cadres who know how to implement these policies. "Zuma also touched on the transparent process the party had undergone in finalising its list of candidates ahead of the local government elections. "We are the only organisation that is transparent in its process on identifying and electing councillors. We are proud of this. This is democracy in action. "He said this was not the case for other parties.
"We have never seen other councillors from other people. We don't even know what is happening, how they are elected. In us, some people at times say people are fighting with regards to councilors. They leave one point, that this is democracy at work. "He said the party expected its councillors to convene regular community meetings and would avail themselves "at all times" to explain to their community how far they had gone in implementing promises of the manifesto. They would also explain to communitues when they faced challenges, he said.
President blasts 'violent thuggery', urges ANC members to take high road
Zuma on Saturday also asked members not to allow themselves to be provoked by opposition parties, but rather to take the high road in defending the ruling party.
"The ANC is the leader of society and cannot behave the same way as its detractors," Zuma told ANC supporters who had gathered at the FNB Stadium.
"These are parties known for their violent behaviour and thuggery. Our members must not stoop to that level."
He said South Africa was better off with the ANC in power.
"Only the ANC has a proper vision for this country with realistic and achievable goals."
This is why ANC members needed to "remain and refrain" from creating a culture of anarchy to show their unhappiness with any decision, or the lack of one taken by the government.
The ANC was a democratic movement which adhered to principals of democracy, he said.
"Anarchy or ill-discipline have no place in democracy," he said, asking members to exercise the highest levels of discipline.
Zuma also called on members to put the party before anything else, to make sure the party won the elections and ultimately stayed in power. The party's electioneering machinery relied on this, he said.
"A vote for the ANC on August 3 is a vote for better life.
"Do the right thing, put this country on the trajectory to prosperity. It is the duty of all of us to ensure each and every supporter goes to vote. [A] vote means the power to run the country. Our task continues."
This article first appeared on News24 – see here.
