ANC REJECTS VOTE NO CAMPAIGN

The African National Congress joins the many South Africans, including ANC stalwarts, who have rejected the call made by launch of the Vote No campaign by Former Minister Kasrils and others today, 15th April 2014. The ANC regards this call espoused by the Vote No campaign as disruptive, reckless and counter-revolutionary (see M&G online report).

The people of South Africa, led by their organisation the African National Congress, paid the highest price for the right to vote. The right of our people to vote was not a benevolent act bestowed by Ronnie Kasrils upon South Africans; it was the supreme sacrifice made in recognition of the fact that no government can claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people, and as such our people would forever jealously guard this hard-won right. Reactionary statements therefore that call for such careless behaviour as spoiling ballot papers is tantamount to undermining the long struggles and the sacrifices of our people.

The African National Congress is further disappointed by the false statement made by Former Minister Kasrils that he has raised his disgruntlement with the ANC within the structures of the movement, as would have been expected from someone of his stature. It is put on record that at no point were such matters raised within the ANC. This behaviour is typical of Ronne Kasrils' historical adventurism, ill-discipline and recklessness. The ANC is confident that this reactionary call shall have no effect on the ANC and the elections. On the contrary, we believe that it will galvanise more of our people to go out on the 7th May to show Kasrils and ilk that the right to vote is sacrosanct.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, April 15 2014

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