President Thabo Mbeki announced at two rallies in Limpopo on Saturday that he is going to deploy Limpopo Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi to parliament next month, to represent the people of the province.
“After the 14th of April Ramatlhodi will become unemployed. I am going to take Ngoako and put him in parliament in Cape Town,” Mbeki told a packed Mkwakwaila Stadium, about 30km outside Tzaneen.
“You will say, goodbye Ngoako, [while] I will welcome Ngoako. You are going to get a new premier for the province.”
Ramatlhodi’s replacement will come from within the African National Congress, Mbeki said.
Speculation is rife that Ramatlhodi will get a Cabinet post, most probably as minister of of justice and constitutional development.
Later on Saturday Mbeki, who was accompanied by several Cabinet ministers and senior officials, conveyed the same message to a large crowd at the Ravali Stadium near Thohoyandou.
When Mbeki, clad in a black ANC cap and yellow golf shirt, alighted from his car at the Ga-Kgapane village at the start of his two-day election campaign in Limpopo, the crowd shouted “ANC, ANC”.
But the president was disappointed when there were no adults present at the first house he visited.
A stunned 14-year-old Mokgadi Monakasi said her parents had gone to town.
Ramatlhodi approached the girl and said: “Tell them [the parents] President Mbeki was here to see them.”
Sarah Kgapane (81) said she was happy to have met Mbeki and Ramatlhodi, but expressed concern about the visit.
“As long as this is not an abstract thing — it must bear fruit,” she said.
“We are thankful to see our leaders for the first time.”
Referring to opposition parties Mbeki said: “If other political parties come to canvas for votes they should ask them, where were they before 1994?”
“There is no other organisation in the country which led us during our struggle. Where were they when we were struggling and dying? They were not there. The reason they were not there, is because they were not interested in our freedom.”
Mbeki said a “very nice environment” had been created for other political parties to freely campaign in the country.
The president’s election campaign in Limpopo will end on Sunday at a rally at Bakenberg Stadium near Mokopane. — Sapa
Special Report: Elections 2004