Street posters promoting politician-turned-business-tycoon Tokyo Sexwale for president have appeared in Buffalo City (East London) in the Eastern Cape.
The Dispatch Online reported on Monday that big colour posters reading ”Tokyo for president” were seen on poles in and around the city.
The latest move follows a visit by Sexwale to Grahamstown last week. He told more than 500 students at the 16th annual anniversary of the South African Students’ Congress that he is prepared to be the next ”voice of the people”.
He is ready to lead the country ”if called by the people”, he said.
Sexwale’s spokesperson Chris Vick said he was unaware of the posters, adding Sexwale’s office was not responsible for putting them up.
The African National Congress nomination process for the next party president officially began on Monday, allowing branches to discuss openly their favourite candidates.
Vick said Sexwale was getting increasing approaches from youth and Umkhonto weSizwe veterans in the Eastern Cape and other provinces to stand for the ANC’s top job.
”We’re getting lots of invites and these people are saying that Tokyo represents unity at a time when the ANC needs a more unified approach to the challenges it faces.”
He said Sexwale had spoken on a number of platforms and that the responses received ”were very positive”.
Political analysts have said Sexwale’s campaign for the presidency based on a ”call by the people” is an excellent tactic. Cape Town-based political commentator Lawrence Schlemmer said Sexwale is travelling the country to get a ”mandate from the people”. — Sapa