President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday warned opposition parties that the ANC, which in recent years has lost support, will be the party to beat in next year’s general election.
Addressing ANC supporters at a commemoration of Pietermaritzburg-based liberation struggle heroes Moses Mabhida and Johnny Makhathini in the town of Imbali, Ramaphosa said the party’s divisions, which led to the loss of support, were now a thing of the past.
“The work that has been done, I saw yesterday in KwaDukuza, I can see that the leader is motivated … our members, volunteers and our people. With that I can smell victory for the ANC,” said the president.
“I want to encourage you to continue to unite this noble movement, and the divisions of the past, we [will] get rid of it and let’s unite this important vehicle of people’s liberation.
Ramaphosa laid wreaths at the graves of Mabhida and Makhathini, who were buried at Imbali Heroes Acre where Sunday’s event was held.
He told ANC members to take inspiration from the leadership qualities exhibited by the two stalwarts. “He did so much to make sure we got our freedom. Being at Heroes Acre only boosted our spirits.
Members of the KwaZulu-Natal ANC have opposed Ramaphosa. At the 2017 ANC national conference, the majority of provincial party members supported Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for the position of ANC president.
She is now the minister of women, children and persons with disabilities in the presidency, a position widely seen as a demotion from her position as minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, in last week’s cabinet reshuffle.
During last year’s ANC presidential race, when Ramaphosa was challenged by former health minister Zweli Mkhize, party members in KwaZulu-Natal rallied behind Mkhize.
But the mood among ANC members in Pietermaritzburg was different during Ramaphosa’s visit on Sunday.
He showered praises and eulogized Ramaphosa as the president’s motorcade passed through the streets of Imbali.
In nearby Dambuza, where Ramaphosa addressed scores of ANC members, police had to block the entrance to the hall as crowds continued to pour into the venue.
Thulani Ndlovu, an ANC member from Msunduzi ward 21 in Dambuza, said he was disappointed not to hear Ramaphosa speak.
“When I arrived, the police turned me away. They said the hall was full. Like many of my friends who came to listen to Ramaphosa, I ended up camping outside the venue. My only consolation was that at least he waved as his vehicle left.
Ramaphosa told supporters that the ANC remains the only organization they can trust, and said most of the hardships faced by citizens will be a thing of the past. “We know the lack of development; we know the electricity problem. The ANC is solving all these problems.
Flanked by ANC KwaZulu-Natal leaders, including the provincial chairman, Siboniso Duma, and provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo, Ramaphosa began his tour of the province on Saturday in the North Coast.
Ramaphosa described the reception he received in KwaZulu-Natal as “very warm and very positive”.
“Our presence here is to address the challenges facing the people such as water problems and unemployment. This is the beginning of our election campaign. It means the wheels of our election campaign are running.