KwaZulu-Natal voters were warned on Sunday by the African National Congress (ANC) not to be duped by political parties who would use any stunt to secure votes ahead of this year’s election.
The party instead asked voters to give the ANC a 60% victory and renew their mandate for the next five years.
”This is a time of excitement, but also a time where many make false promises and employ all kinds of stunts in order to woo voters,” provincial chairperson Zweli Mkhize said while launching its provincial manifesto in Groutville, north of Durban.
”Indeed the people of KwaZulu-Natal today understand that they have the key to freedom and that it is the ANC that holds that key.”
He said the ruling party committed itself to positioning the province as a leading economic hub in South Africa in years to come.
”For us to bring fundamental change we need a decisive victory, we need a 60% victory in the upcoming elections … The greater the victory, the greater will be our capacity to transform KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.
”We now come to you the people of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa, asking you to renew the mandate of the ANC.”
The party had developed an election manifesto to attain a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of the people with emphasis on the poor and vulnerable.
”The manifesto of the ANC is a reflection of an inclusive and well thought out vision that takes into account the objective conditions of our society, but also understands that no matter how big the challenges are, we have the key to our own freedom and not the challenges that face us,” he told scores of residents.
When drawing up the plan, the ANC ”was always awake to the danger of veering towards a defeatist or triumphalist attitude”.
He reminded the community that the ruling party had done a lot since the inception of democracy to address the challenges of people in South Africa.
The ”gloomy, hopeless province”, said Mkhize, had become an attractive destination for investment opportunities because of the ANC.
”Since 2004 the people of KwaZulu-Natal have experienced a period of unprecedented growth, peace and optimism.
”Through both words and deeds, the government led by the ANC has restored the faith of the people of our province in what a democratic government should be run like,” he said.
He said it was the ANC that remained the ”best instrument” to improve the lives of the people, particularly those from poor backgrounds.
”The ANC must find ways to heal the internal rifts and seek to consolidate its unity. Only a united ANC leadership can unite our people towards a common objective,” Mkhize said.
The five priorities of the party’s manifesto were education, health, rural development and agrarian reform, creating decent jobs and fighting the scourge of crime.
”The ANC is the only party that has transported South Africa from the brink of collapse to a pedestal of hope on which it stands today. The ANC has been tried and tested. It remains the only force that carries the hopes and aspirations of all South Africans. It remains the only force for real change. ” – Sapa