As the African National Congress played host to members of minority communities in Sandton on Saturday night, the Congress of the People’s Mvume Dandala, took his campaign to the Free State.
Dandala traded his luxury sedan for a branded bus when he visited several townships to convince South Africans to vote the new party into government.
Confronted by unhappy community members who questioned him about Cope’s plan to fight corruption, create jobs and deliver services, Dandala said his party would build a government that put people first.
He said the high levels of unemployment in the country was unacceptable and that ordinary South Africans needed to be empowered with skills that would enable them to find jobs.
‘When we build houses, Cope will train locals so that after the completion of the project, people are left with skills.â€
Dandala said he believed the country had the potential to overcome corruption.
‘There are people who are sitting at home suspended [for corruption] but they are still earning salaries. That is going to come to an end. The problem is that we give jobs to our friends who cannot do the work. The instrument you have to change this country is your vote. Vote for the government you can trust,†he said.
Partnerships
Meanwhile, in Sandton, a Lebanese belly-dancer, a Chinese lion-dance troupe, a Greek comedian, Portuguese folk dancers and an Italian tenor all endorsed the ANC at a function on Saturday night.
President Kgalema Motlanthe, who was scheduled to to attend the event was a no-show, having just returned from the G20 meeting in the United Kingdom.
However, Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile and ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa were there, clapping to the beat as Lebanese belly-dancer Taryn whirled in a shimmering gold outfit at the cavernous Sandton Convention Pavilion hall.
In her front-row seat, Absa chief executive Maria Ramos was thanked by Phosa for ”turning an economy that wasn’t working into an economy that works”.
Phosa told the gathering that the ANC valued its relationship with all minority communities, not just with the Afrikaans community.
”In as much as we value our association with Afrikaners, we value our association and partnerships with the English, Jewish, German, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Coloured and all communities.
”I cannot name all the minorities that have made me proud to be a South African in the rainbow nation, but you have certainly made heroic contributions in both the pre- and post-liberation periods,” he said.
Minority communities were ”an integral part of the moral majority”.
Phosa was confident of a convincing ANC win in the election, as was Mashatile, who predicted a large majority.
”We want more than two-thirds so when [ANC president] Jacob Zuma comes in with his determination he can drive the country,” he said.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said earlier this month that he was not looking forward to telling people overseas that Zuma was his president.
”In the year of [US President Barack] Obama, can you imagine what it is like when you are walking in New York and they ask you who will be the next president…?
”At the present time, I can’t pretend to be looking forward to having him as my president.”
Mashatile, however, said: ”If I had an opportunity to walk the streets of New York or London and someone asks who is my president, I’ll proudly say its Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma.”
Among the many endorsers of the ANC on Saturday was Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research engineer Ntsiki Msimang.
It was important to vote ANC to ”clear up the mess that those who have jumped ship have left”, said Msimang, who lists on his website the people he would most like to meet as the Dalai Lama and Paris Hilton.
Former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka, who also served as minerals and energy affairs minister, had failed to ensure South Africa did not end up relying on other governments for energy security, he said.
”Clearly she didn’t do her job and now she is asking us to cope with the mess she has left.”
Mlambo-Ngcuka recently joined the ANC splinter group, the Congress of the People (Cope).
Msimang also accused Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota of failing to ensure a high standard of army research capacity as defence minister, while still a member of the ANC.
Controversial former Sunday Times columnist David Bullard also threw his weight behind the ANC.
”Some of you might be wondering what I’m doing here,” he said.
”Well, I’m a surprise guest.”
He said he was supporting the ANC because of the success of its economic policies.
”[Since 1994] we had more than a decade of economic growth and repaid the [National Party’s] debt.”
The ANC had also allowed people to take money off-shore and it had introduced the National Credit Act, which ”stops us getting into the sort of mess the rest of the world is getting in”.
”This is not the time to hand the steering wheel to someone who has never driven before,” said Bullard, dressed in a smart black suit, white shirt, tie and handkerchief.
”God bless the ANC,” he added.