/ 19 January 2014

ANC packs for Perth

Newly-appointed ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Newly-appointed ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.

ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa is to lead an ANC delegation to Perth, Australia, to woo South African voters living there and possibly establish a branch of the party, the Sunday Times reported.

"The ANC is a non-racial organisation, and obviously we will not leave out any voters that are likely to vote for us," African National Congress international relations subcommittee head and deputy minister in the presidency Obed Bapela told the newspaper.

"So we will be targeting Australia because of the number of South Africans that are there."

According to the report, an estimated 80 000 South Africans are living in Australia.

Bapela said the South Africans in Australia had left because of the high crime rate, and now, 20 years into democracy, had reconnected with South Africa.

Bapela said the Australian trip was a "fact-finding mission", and if it was found there was enough support, the party may establish a branch in Perth.

The ANC was also planning a rally in London next month, where it had set up a branch. – Sapa