/ 18 December 2017

Celebrations in Ramaphosa’s hometown: ‘We are not going to sleep tonight’

Jubilant: Groups gathered outside the Ramaphosa house in Soweto to celebrate the new ANC president's victory
Jubilant: Groups gathered outside the Ramaphosa house in Soweto to celebrate the new ANC president's victory

People had been gathering at the Ramaphosa household in Chiawelo, Soweto since early morning, preparing for the result. Months of lobbying by family, friends, neighbours and branch members had come to this. The official from Elexion stood at the lectern, the results safe in her hand.

Ivy Ramaphosa couldn’t take it any longer. Her brother, the activist, trade unionist, businessman and politician faced his greatest test to date. In a swirl of green and gold Ivy ran to the bathroom to hide. Then came the cheers.

Scenes of jubilation erupted outside the house where newly elected ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa grew up on Monday.

Ramaphosa beat close rival Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the party’s 54th national conference in Nasrec outside Soweto yesterday afternoon.

Ecstatic youth, neighbours and ANC supporters sang and danced in jubilation in the street while police kept a close watch.

Fatima Hlongeni, a community worker who grew up with Ramaphosa said she hoped his victory would help bring change to her community which is ravaged by unemployment and drug abuse.

“I have not slept since the conference started. I have been praying. I’m happy that we now have a president of the ANC from Soweto,” she said.

“We hope that he can help to bring development here,” she said.

She arrived at the homestead early in the morning and watched the broadcast on TV from the Ramaphosa home where many people had gathered.

“We want him to work hard to rebuild the ANC,” she said, draped in an ANC flag.

Tlaleng Radebe who is a branch executive committee member of the Chiawelo branch, which is also Ramaphosa’s branch said she had been at the home since 1pm.

She had been optimistic about him winning and said they had worked hard to lobby other branches.

The branch was represented by one voting delegate at the conference.

“We were not sleeping. Our hopes were high,” she said.

“People just came on their own to celebrate. We have always wanted him to be President,” she said about the impromptu celebration.

“We are not going to sleep tonight. We are going to have a night vigil and probably a victory party,” she said.

Sandra Hlongeni from Chiawelo and a member of the ANC in good standing said she fell when she heard Ramaphosa’s name announced on TV.

She had been waiting for results all day and watched the proceedings on TV at the Ramaphosa home.

“We were very nervous. We prayed that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma would not win,” she said.

“I fell from my chair when I heard that Ramaphosa had won. I could not believe it. We want him to come and celebrate with us,” she said.

“He should come to our ward before he attends to other issues because our ward is troubled and rotten. He must start here at home,” she said.

Cedric Mudau, also a member of the ANC ward 11, said they have David Mabuza to thank for Ramaphosa’s victory.

He said they were shocked that Ace Magashule had made it to the top six but they are happy Gwede Mantashe had been reelected.

“Everyone is here, neighbours, everyone,” he said.

“He will take us back to what the ANC was before. But he must work hard in his branch because we don’t want him to lose in his ward like Zuma in the last election. We want him to participate in his own ward,” he said. — Mukurukuru Media