Visiting underdeveloped Mqanduli for the first time, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday promised that a portion of the R300bn he had raised through his investment drive would be used to improve the standard of living in the rural town.
Ramaphosa, said Mqanduli had a special place in his heart and he had always wanted to visit the area because those originally from there, such as deputy labour minister Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa, always made sure that Mqanduli issues were part of the national agenda.
“Whether it’s cabinet, a strategic session or the ANC, he always asks how people in places like Mqanduli would benefit [from government programmes].
“He always says whatever we do, we must always think of people in rural areas, in places like Mqanduli. That is why for me this visit is special,” said Ramaphosa.
He did not commit as to how much would be set aside for Mqanduli. But with the government planning to digitise classrooms, Ramaphosa said when the state rolled out tablets in the province, Mqanduli should receive them first.
From Thursday to Sunday, Ramaphosa criss-crossed the Eastern Cape, addressing communities in Butterworth, Dimbaza, East London, Makhanda, Port Elizabeth, Mqanduli and Mthatha, on the campaign trail, for next month’s general and provincial elections.
He went on a charm offensive, telling thousands of people to once again put their faith in the ANC. The president confirmed he was “seriously considering” granting jailed AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo a presidential pardon.
This was after justice minister Michael Masutha recommended that Ramaphosa free the monarch, who has served four of his 12 years for arson and grievous assault, among other charges.
The Daily Dispatch reported last week that five of the seven of his victims had forgiven him and called on Ramaphosa to pardon Dalindyebo.After addressing hundreds of residents and traditional leaders, Ramaphosa met with the acting AbaThembu king, Prince Azenathi Dalindyebo, behind closed doors in Mthatha on Sunday afternoon.AbaThembu traditional leader Nkosi Dumisani Mgudlwa described the meeting as a “top secret” gathering.Just as he did in his Freedom Day celebrations address at the Miki Yili Stadium in Makhanda on Saturday, Ramaphosa said South Africa was a better place to live in now.“Those with eyes can attest to the fact that things are better than 1994. Today, we can see. There is electricity here.”But he acknowledged that there were many challenges including a lack of jobs, water shortages, and too few clinics and hospitals.“We want to fix those things. We will start with fixing the government from national to provincial to local government.“We want to get rid of corruption,” he said, calling on those who had threatened not to vote to go to the polls.Thule Gwazela, a youth from Mxambele village where Ramaphosa’s helicopter landed, was disappointed that the president had not touched on sports development, despite landing next to a soccer field where there was a tournament.On Saturday, Ramaphosa denounced racism, saying those who were in favour of displaying the old South African flag and those behind xenophobic attacks were trying to undermine the unity that the country had built since the advent of democracy.Delivering a powerful 37-minute speech in front of thousands who packed the stadium, Ramaphosa said there were “sinister attempts” to derail the country and what had been achieved in uniting citizens...