African National Congress (ANC) supporters hold up cloths with pictures of South African President and ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 112th ANC Commemorative Rally in Mbombela on January 13, 2024. (Photo provided by: PHILL MAGakoe/AFP)
President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the ANC's manifesto launch on Monday with a speech to a crowd of party volunteers in Inanda, north of Durban.
Mr Ramaphosa, who laid flowers at the grave of ANC founder John Langaribalele Dube, told volunteers who had come forward to support the ANC in the run-up to the next general election that their desire to work for the ANC would be affected by the verdict. He said it was proof. The party was on its way to victory.
“If you look at the opposition parties, including the recently launched smaller parties, no party has as many volunteers as we do. As the ANC, we look forward to you driving our election campaigns here in eThekwini. I am.
“On Saturday we are launching our manifesto here in Durban. This manifesto is proof that the ANC has done a lot in the last 30 years in terms of changing the lives of our people. The ANC manifesto also , will show that the ANC is the only party that can take this country forward,” he said.
Thousands of ANC supporters are expected to gather at the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the launch of the party's manifesto.
Supporters are expected to arrive in Durban from nine provinces this week, but have already booked most of the hotel rooms in the Durban CBD and surrounding areas.
By Monday afternoon, hotels and other accommodation in Durban and Umhlanga were already fully booked.
The ANC, which has dominated polls in KwaZulu-Natal since the 2009 general election, faces challenges from parties including the IFP, DA, EFF and the newly formed MK party.
Prime Minister Ramaphosa told ANC volunteers that the ruling party was “on track to victory”.
“Our message to all opposition parties is very simple: they will be defeated,” he said.
Prime Minister Ramaphosa is expected to announce the dates for the next election within the next two weeks.
This article first appeared in The Witness.
