While analysts and polls predict the ANC may for the first time score below 50 percent in an election, the liberation movement is adamant it will outshine its opponents on May 29. The party has mounted a spirited campaign deploying its top leaders including veterans to woe voters. On Tuesday deputy president Paul Mashatile led a campaign in Hamanskraal where he expressed confidence the party will sail to easy victory on election day.
“You would have seen for yourself how warmly we were welcomed here in Hamanskraal just as it was the case in other areas. Our people love the ANC and we will do well in the elections. We are not aiming for a small win but an overwhelming victory,” said Mashatile flanked by scores of supporters.
During his door to door campaigning Mashatile was told of various challenges the community has to grapple with including unemployment and he swiftly indicated the ANC government was already on top of the situation.
“Regarding your concern of youth unemployment I want to tell you that president Ramaphosa has come up with a plan to deal with that. Just this morning I was with minister Dlamini and Thandi Modise discussing how the defence force is also going to contribute to that,” he said.
Veteran Tokyo Sexwale who is also a former premier of Gauteng urged the public to trust the ANC based on its three decades experience in government.
“We are the only ones, the only party in the whole of South Africa that ever governed for thirty years. With all our mistakes and problems we have changed the lives of our people,” said Sexwale during a community meeting.
67 year old Lydia Malapane is among those who were visited by the deputy president and she said she’s been voting for the ANC since 1994 and will stick with the party. Malapane said the liberation movement has changed her life in many ways.
“I love the ANC and as always I’ll be voting ANC. I have an RDP house now, a grant and many other things that no one could ever give us. I can never forsake the ANC,” she said.