The African National Congress in Gauteng said on Thursday it will take its election campaign to white areas to ensure it increases its support.
The provincial party’s head of elections, Paul Mashatile, said in Johannesburg: ”We will do this confidently because our record speaks for itself. We have done well as government in the province and delivered services to the people.”
The party will launch its provincial election manifesto and election campaign on Sunday at Orlando Stadium.
The manifesto is the same as the one launched in Durban by party and national President Thabo Mbeki on Sunday.
Mashatile said: ”The ANC in Gauteng will win the elections again in the province with more than 68% of the votes it got in 1999. We are positive that we will repeat our overwhelming win of 1999.”
Mashatile said the party will work hard to increase its support among white, coloured and Indian voters.
”This is part of our principled commitment to non-racialism.”
He spoke confidently about the province’s achievement since 1994, saying ”the ANC government has done a lot in the past 10 years towards good governance, social development, economic development and political stability.
”Gauteng is a better place to live in now.”
He said the election campaign for the ANC does not start now but started after the 1999 elections.
”Our machinery have been in place. We have visited homes, spoken to the people and know what they want,” Mashatile said.
He said since July 2003, the party’s campaign workers have visited more than a million homes to talk about voter registration.
He said more homes will be visited in the next few weeks to prepare voters for the elections.
The launch will be addressed by Premier Mbhazima Shilowa and the keynote address will be delivered by Deputy President Jacob Zuma. — Sapa