The African National Congress (ANC) kicked off its local government election campaign on Saturday in what will rank as one its most poorly attended launch events in recent history.
The launch was held in Nelson Mandela Bay where the party is in an intense battle to retain the local municipality‚ where it scraped through with a 52% margin five years ago.
The stadium was about three quarters full when President Jacob Zuma started speaking‚ despite the ruling party's ambitious goal of 100‚000 people attending the launch.
The poor attendance could be seen as warning sign to party leaders as they face one of the toughest elections‚ with a president under siege and a growing rebellion within the party’s ranks.
Lower structures have been pushing for Zuma to resign for undermining the constitution in relation to the Nkandla scandal.
People slowly started leaving the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth as Zuma delivered his speech to launch the ANC manifesto. Before making his address the president walked onto the pitch at the stadium to a screaming crowd.
The president was flanked by ANC secretary-general Gwede Manatashe and Deputy President Cyril Ramphosa. “Zuma! Zuma! Zuma! Zuma!‚” the crowd screamed before he made his speech. Zuma danced on stage much to the excitement of the crowd.
"He is destroying those next to him‚” said an ANC supporter.
The ANC national leaders and their alliance partners put up a united front on Saturday and during the build-up to the launch despite a growing rebellion as some party members agitate for Zuma to resign.
Eastern Cape chairman Phumulo Masualle‚ said the party had faith and confidence in Zuma‚ and that the province would continue to support him. “The manner in which President Zuma is providing leadership is in the best interest of the country and the ANC‚” he said.
Masualle's message was echoed by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Sdumo Dlamini‚ while other allies - the South African Communist Party (SACP) as well as the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) - vowed to support Zuma and the ANC during the campaign.
In his speech Zuma‚ seemingly without a sense of irony‚ said the ANC was guided by the Constitution and had come a long way in transforming and improving local government.
“Last week right here in Port Elizabeth‚ we announced that the ocean economy had unlocked economic opportunities worth seventeen billion rand. We also announced that the Transnet National Ports Authority had allocated over R7bn to upgrade the country’s ports. This is just an example of what is being done to boost economic growth in various sectors‚” he said. The government under the ruling party had worked on various ways to grow the ocean economy around the country‚ he said.
Zuma also said the government had made inroads in uplifting poor families‚ with many households getting access to electricity and water. People chatted and milled around as he spoke‚ some leaving the grandstands.
“We're hungry‚” a woman in the crowd shouted. - Tiso Black Star Group Digital/BDlive
ANC election manifesto poorly attended
The launch was held in Nelson Mandela Bay where the party is in an intense battle to retain the local municipality‚ where it scraped through with a 52% margin five years ago.
The stadium was about three quarters full when President Jacob Zuma started speaking‚ despite the ruling party's ambitious goal of 100‚000 people attending the launch.
The poor attendance could be seen as warning sign to party leaders as they face one of the toughest elections‚ with a president under siege and a growing rebellion within the party’s ranks.
Lower structures have been pushing for Zuma to resign for undermining the constitution in relation to the Nkandla scandal.
People slowly started leaving the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth as Zuma delivered his speech to launch the ANC manifesto. Before making his address the president walked onto the pitch at the stadium to a screaming crowd.
The president was flanked by ANC secretary-general Gwede Manatashe and Deputy President Cyril Ramphosa. “Zuma! Zuma! Zuma! Zuma!‚” the crowd screamed before he made his speech. Zuma danced on stage much to the excitement of the crowd.
"He is destroying those next to him‚” said an ANC supporter.
The ANC national leaders and their alliance partners put up a united front on Saturday and during the build-up to the launch despite a growing rebellion as some party members agitate for Zuma to resign.
Eastern Cape chairman Phumulo Masualle‚ said the party had faith and confidence in Zuma‚ and that the province would continue to support him. “The manner in which President Zuma is providing leadership is in the best interest of the country and the ANC‚” he said.
Masualle's message was echoed by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Sdumo Dlamini‚ while other allies - the South African Communist Party (SACP) as well as the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) - vowed to support Zuma and the ANC during the campaign.
In his speech Zuma‚ seemingly without a sense of irony‚ said the ANC was guided by the Constitution and had come a long way in transforming and improving local government.
“Last week right here in Port Elizabeth‚ we announced that the ocean economy had unlocked economic opportunities worth seventeen billion rand. We also announced that the Transnet National Ports Authority had allocated over R7bn to upgrade the country’s ports. This is just an example of what is being done to boost economic growth in various sectors‚” he said. The government under the ruling party had worked on various ways to grow the ocean economy around the country‚ he said.
Zuma also said the government had made inroads in uplifting poor families‚ with many households getting access to electricity and water. People chatted and milled around as he spoke‚ some leaving the grandstands.
“We're hungry‚” a woman in the crowd shouted. - Tiso Black Star Group Digital/BDlive
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