Mandela’s sentiments about DA recurring theme at ANC rally

GREAT MOVES: President Jacob Zuma, far left, speaking at the ANC's final pre-election rally, in Johannesburg yesterday Picture: CORNELL TUKIRI/EPA
GREAT MOVES: President Jacob Zuma, far left, speaking at the ANC's final pre-election rally, in Johannesburg yesterday Picture: CORNELL TUKIRI/EPA
Former president Nelson Mandela’s sentiments about the Democratic Alliance was a recurring theme at the African National Congress’s Siyanqoba rally on Sunday where President Jacob Zuma used the iconic leader’s words to convince supporters not to vote for the opposition party.

“Our beloved leader... comrade Nelson Mandela stated eloquently in December 2000 when he said “’the ANC is the only party that could deliver services. It is the organisation of the future‚ nobody can deny the ANC that role’‚” Zuma said.

He told supporters that Mandela had also “warned our people and our country” about the DA‚ which currently runs the City of Cape Town.

Zuma vowed that the ANC would wrestle power away from the DA in the metro which he said catered for the needs of the rich and wealthy and left the poor “unserviceable and underdeveloped”.

“The ANC will work to win back this city so that the poor can also be taken seriously‚” he said.

The ruling party and its alliance partners have been reciting the message Mandela delivered at a Congress of SA Trade Unions rally in 2000.

Mandela was quoted as telling the trade union federation that: “you must not be misled by a party that only cares for blacks on the eve of the elections. No white party can run this country. No matter how they cover up by getting a few black stooges‚ they (the whites) remain the bosses... they remain a white party.”

The DA at its final rally on Saturday also invoked Mandela and accused the ANC of betraying his legacy. The two parties have been in a battle of words over the use of Mandela’s legacy by the DA.

Zuma said the ANC had to win back Cape Town and ensure that transformation reached every part of the country.

He sought to highlight what the ANC had done in the country’s metros‚ which are the focus of this year’s local government elections.

Earlier‚ Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali al;so invoked former president Nelson Mandela’s sentiments about the DA‚ as he urged voters not to be “misled” by the opposition party.

Delivering Cosatu’s message of support at the African National Congress’s Siyanqoba Rally at the Emirates Stadium in Johannesburg‚ Ntshalintshali quoted Mandela’s reported address to the union federation in 2000.

Ntshalintshali said workers were confident that only the ANC could deliver services to the people.

Workers knew who the “enemy” was and could “smell the enemy”‚ he said.

In a message to councillor candidates standing in the polls on Wednesday‚ Ntshalintshali said no matter what position they held they had to serve the people.

The ANC kicked off its final countdown to the municipal elections at the 62 500-seater Ellis Park stadium in a more confident way compared to its manifesto launch in Nelson Mandela Bay. Ellis Park was filled‚ but not to capacity.

A live feed of the rally was being streamed to rallies in other provinces – Eastern Cape‚ Western Cape‚ Limpopo‚ Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande told supporters that there would be no better birthday present for the SACP than an “overwhelming victory” for the ANC at the polls.

“That is why we are calling on workers and the poor to come out in their numbers and vote for the ANC on Wednesday.”

He said the SACP’s support for the ANC was based on the “massive achievements” that the party had made since the dawn of democracy.

However‚ he warned ANC councillor candidates that a vote for the ANC was not going to be a blank cheque.

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