President Cyril Ramaphosa promises better results, Delwin Velasamy
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday made an impassioned appeal to thousands of supporters to give the ruling party another chance, promising a faster and better outcome.
“We are calling on you to make a clear choice for unity and progress, and to reject the social and political forces working hard to undermine the freedom gains of the past 30 years…
“We will do better, do more, do faster. Together,” President Ramaphosa said.
He was speaking at the party's final Siyanqoba election rally at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium ahead of the general elections on Wednesday 29 May.
Some 27 million voters are expected to vote for a new government in what will be the first election in South Africa's history to feature independent candidates.
In another first for the country, a three-round voting system made partly necessary by the introduction of independent candidates, President Ramaphosa implored his supporters to put a cross right next to his “handsome” face.
“Once we get there [ballot paper]Look for a handsome face and vote for him. Not an ugly face. Look for a handsome guy like me. Let's go out and make sure we have one bull in the pen. There are a lot of people who don't want us to come back, but on Wednesday we'll give them a show.
“Let's show who we are. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have given us strict instructions to give them 70 per cent of their votes,” President Ramaphosa said.
The party hopes to maintain its majority by increasing voter turnout in regional provinces, as it expects to lose support in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, which have the largest number of registered voters.
These are the two provinces where the ANC is weakest, with opinion polls predicting its approval rating will probably be below 50% because of the rise of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, the brainchild of former ANC president Jacob Zuma.
At the stadium, some ANC supporters were upset by MK's appearance. They held up signs that read “Zuma is a little boy”, others wrote “Rest in peace MK Party” and one even held up a coffin with “Rest in peace Zuma” written on it.
Ramphosa said if the ANC were to return to power it would work to implement a jobs plan to employ more South Africans, develop industry and invest in an inclusive economy.
President Ramaphosa said the country's unemployment rate had recently risen to about 32.1 percent and this had become evident throughout his party's election campaign. “It was particularly painful to meet young people who were struggling to find employment. I was extremely moved by their determination to keep going despite repeated disappointments,” he said.
“Our jobs plan aims to meet their needs. For these young people, and many more unemployed across the country, we will create and sustain employment opportunities providing public goods and services in their communities,” President Ramaphosa said.
In another effort to tackle unemployment, President Ramaphosa said the ANC would create a favourable environment for industries that employ many people, such as agriculture, tourism, mining, garments, food and beverages and steel.
“We will also support new industries such as new energy vehicles, renewable energy and information technology.” [The ANC] “We will deliver a balanced and just transition to a cleaner, greener future, creating new jobs and enhancing export competitiveness,” President Ramaphosa said.
During his speech, President Ramaphosa said that during the election campaign South Africans had asked him to increase the grant from 350 rand to 700 rand, which drew loud cheers from the crowd. However, the cheers quickly died down when he said the government would soon increase the grant to 370 rand.
With many people still unemployed, the ANC will continue to provide income support to those who need it most. “We will maintain existing social transfers, which have been so important in reducing poverty and giving opportunities to poor children,” he said.
“At the same time, we will also implement the Basic Income Support Grant for working persons under the SRD. [Social Relief of Distress] Grant.”
President Ramaphosa also criticised the Democratic Alliance's controversial flag-burning political advertisement, saying it was aimed at subverting democratic gains.
“We will not tolerate parties that yearn for our apartheid past and undermine the constitution to protect the privileges of a few. We will not tolerate those who burn the flag of a democratic South Africa and seek to subvert the achievements of our democracy,” he said.
