A HIGH-POWERED ANC delegation touched down in the province this weekend to garner support for the party ahead of crucial by-elections in two weeks’ time.
ANC bigwigs led by the party’s deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, treasurer Zweli Mkhize, deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, spokesman Zizi Kodwa and national executive committee member Obed Bapela, descended on the Eastern Cape ahead of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s (NMBM) by-elections on November 5.
The delegation will address gatherings across the province, mostly in the NMBM, where the party has shown vulnerability and opposition parties have expressed a desire to take over from the ANC during the 2016 local government elections.
Ramaphosa yesterday morning delivered the OR Tambo memorial lecture at the University of Fort Hare’s main campus in Alice.
While Ramaphosa was in Alice, Duarte was addressing a “cadre’s forum” at the Grahamstown Indoor Sports Centre in Joza location.
The by-elections scheduled in the NMBM area come after an ANC councillor died and a comrade in another ward was fired following recommendations by the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma probe into candidate rigging.
The ANC’s support in the metro during last May’s elections was a cause for concern as the DA had shown growth ahead of 2016 elections.
Ramaphosa, who also deliv a keynote address at an ANC gala dinner at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last night, will this morning lead a door-to-door campaign trail in the metro.
Later today the national delegation is expected to address stakeholders at Port Elizabeth’s Nangoza Jebe Hall before addressing gatherings around the metro.
Ramaphosa will address supporters at the Uitenhage Town Hall, and Duarte at Port Elizabeth’s Raymond Mhlaba Sport Centre while Mkhize will speak at Daku Hall. Bapela will speak at Estalini, Kodwa at Gelvandale Community Hall and NEC member Fikile Xasa at city hall.
Speaking in Alice, Ramaphosa said Tambo was a champion of gender equality and women emancipation.
He said in honouring him: “We should not claim South Africa is free if its women and girls are still subjected to incidents of gender-based violence and abuse.”
Another ANC and SACP leader Blade Nzimande is also in the province and is expected to address the SACP’s provincial conference in East London today.
ANC gears up for by-elections
ANC bigwigs led by the party’s deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, treasurer Zweli Mkhize, deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, spokesman Zizi Kodwa and national executive committee member Obed Bapela, descended on the Eastern Cape ahead of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s (NMBM) by-elections on November 5.
The delegation will address gatherings across the province, mostly in the NMBM, where the party has shown vulnerability and opposition parties have expressed a desire to take over from the ANC during the 2016 local government elections.
Ramaphosa yesterday morning delivered the OR Tambo memorial lecture at the University of Fort Hare’s main campus in Alice.
While Ramaphosa was in Alice, Duarte was addressing a “cadre’s forum” at the Grahamstown Indoor Sports Centre in Joza location.
The by-elections scheduled in the NMBM area come after an ANC councillor died and a comrade in another ward was fired following recommendations by the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma probe into candidate rigging.
The ANC’s support in the metro during last May’s elections was a cause for concern as the DA had shown growth ahead of 2016 elections.
Ramaphosa, who also deliv a keynote address at an ANC gala dinner at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last night, will this morning lead a door-to-door campaign trail in the metro.
Later today the national delegation is expected to address stakeholders at Port Elizabeth’s Nangoza Jebe Hall before addressing gatherings around the metro.
Ramaphosa will address supporters at the Uitenhage Town Hall, and Duarte at Port Elizabeth’s Raymond Mhlaba Sport Centre while Mkhize will speak at Daku Hall. Bapela will speak at Estalini, Kodwa at Gelvandale Community Hall and NEC member Fikile Xasa at city hall.
Speaking in Alice, Ramaphosa said Tambo was a champion of gender equality and women emancipation.
He said in honouring him: “We should not claim South Africa is free if its women and girls are still subjected to incidents of gender-based violence and abuse.”
Another ANC and SACP leader Blade Nzimande is also in the province and is expected to address the SACP’s provincial conference in East London today.
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