Mr Ramaphosa said the ANC needed to strengthen its branches, regions and provinces to regain a majority. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to show “love” back to the ANC after it failed to maintain a majority in the May 29 election.
Ramaphosa made the comments on Monday as he addressed hundreds of ANC supporters gathered in front of Luthuli House to mark the 100th day of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The event was attended by members of the ANC national executive committee and various provincial leaders, but not by its alliance partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP).
The SACP ignored the invitation, believing that forming a coalition with the Umkhonto Wisizwe Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters was a better solution than the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Many ANC supporters held placards with the message: “Don't kill Chris Hani again.” The slogan first appeared on a T-shirt worn by Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi during a party meeting at Luthuli House. It has been announced that negotiations with the DA to form a coalition government in Gauteng have collapsed.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who has been at loggerheads with Lesufi over his comments about the national unity government, drew loud cheers of “hoi hoi” when he introduced Gatuen premier and called him to the podium.
In his speech, Mr Ramaphosa said the GNU was not something Mbalula or himself had created, but rather what the ANC national executive committee had decided should be done.
He said several surveys show that the majority of South Africans accept both the concept and the actions of a unity government and believe that parties in a coalition should work together in the country's interests. said.
A Social Research Foundation survey on how South Africans feel about the Cooperative Governance Agreement found that nearly 60% of those surveyed believed GNU would be successful.
“This survey also shows us that many people are starting to show favoritism to the ANC, that we support the movement and that, comrades, it is time to elevate the ANC. It shows,” Ramaphosa said.
“Now is the time for us to use our power to ensure that the ANC continues to lead society. It is clear that South Africans still love the ANC. We have love. As members and as leaders, we have to say to our people, 'Give us love back. We want love back.'
He said the ANC needed to strengthen its branches, regions and provinces to regain a majority.
Ramaphosa said South Africans had also sent a clear message about the current state of the ANC, telling the movement to “give full meaning and effect to renewal and reconstruction”.
“Many recognize that progress has been made, but we have not gone far enough. They are not confident that the progress we have made will not be reversed.” he said.
“As the ANC, we have acknowledged that the results of the 2024 elections were a strategic setback for our movement. It is the first time since democratic events that the ANC has not achieved a full majority at the national level. It was my first time.”
Being the party that won the most votes nationally and in seven provinces, Ramaphosa said it must now show leadership and act in the best interests of the country and its people.
Mr Ramaphosa also said the ANC had significant ideological and political differences with some political parties and had joined the unity government knowing full well that tensions were bound to arise.
He said decades of experience had given the ANC the strategic clarity and political ability to work with different factions to pursue progressive goals.
Ultimately, he said, a unity government should not be judged by the political leanings of the parties that make up this government, but by the impact the GNU will have on the lives of poor and working-class South Africans. Ta.
Ahead of President Ramaphosa's speech, Vice President Paul Mashatile told reporters that the GNU was working well and the ANC's focus was on the success of the 10-party coalition government.
“We believe that the last 100 days have been a great success for our work. Since the establishment of the GNU, this country has been stable and has a stable government and a functioning government. I’m happy about that,” he said.
Mashatile said all ministers consider themselves a team rather than individuals from different political parties, and that the president is the only commander-in-chief.