The ANC in Gauteng has expressed confidence that it will be returned to power come the much anticipated national and provincial elections.
The party held a Provincial Executive Committee Lekgotla at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg and vowed to mount a strong campaign to ensure reelection.
Provincial Chairperson and Premier Panyaza Lesufi told the meeting in his closing address on Monday that the party had received commitments from various organised sectors of society that he said puts it in good stead.
“We are thrilled that there’s no single formation from churches , the taxi industry, traditional leaders, civic movement, that had said they’re not going to work with the African National Congress. Actually, in their commitment messages, they believe the African National Congress is the only organisation that can take our people forward. We don’t take their commitment for granted and we welcome and appreciate their support,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi emphasised that the party wants to approach the election campaign with humility in appreciation of the communities that have kept the party in power since 1994.
“The African National Congress is ready in Gauteng to defend this particular province. We conclude this Lekgotla with a commitment to our people that as we knock at your doors, as we engage you in our streets, as we meet you in churches, stokvels, as we further debate with you in various platforms that had been created for this elections so that our people can receive our message, we come to you with the highest level of humility, eliminating any form of arrogance, asking one thing and one thing only that it is through the African National Congress that the country can prosper and this province can develop further,” he said.
Lesufi said among others his administration will create several thousand more jobs as well as to end load shedding ahead of the elections expected to be held on a yet to be announced date.
“It’s quite clear that the Nasispani campaign, the desire to bring young people and those who are unemployed into employment has touched the nerves of the opposition that they don’t have answers to it rather than accuse us of electioneering.
“On top of the six thousands wardens that we have we are ready to train three thousand additional young people that are going to be deployed to fight crime in our province at strategic levels including in the taxi industry, those that are business forums and also those that they think they can invade land in our province and establish new informal settlements,” he said.
“In whatever we do we must ensure, in whatever we do that load-shedding becomes history before we go to the elections in 2024,” said Lesufi.
In a recent interview, the Premier admitted the party could lose support if the electricity crisis is not sorted out.
“It’s a stumbling block. If we are to see and taste victory in 2024 we have to end load shedding, we have to make sure that our people have electricity,” said Lesufi.