Mandela family asks ANC to schedule another visit to statesman’s grave

The Mandela family has asked the African National Congress (ANC) leadership to schedule another day to visit the grave of former President Nelson Mandela.

The top six officials including party president Cyril Ramaphosa visited the family on Thursday as part of the party’s 106th anniversary celebrations.

Speaking to the media after the visit, Inkosi Mandla Mandela said due to certain rituals that have to be performed, they have decided to set another time for the ANC leadership to visit Madiba’s grave. After a period of what many described as isolation of the ANC, the governing party has now embarked on a campaign to reconnect with the people.

The ANC’s political woes started in 2016 when few people turned out at the party’s manifesto launch for the 2016 local government elections in Port Elizabeth. Subsequent to that was the poor showing at the local polls with the ANC losing three metros to opposition parties.

In a bid to turn things around, the ANC NEC members led by top six officials are criss-crossing some parts of the Eastern Cape, addressing mini rallies and mobilising communities to attend the party’s 106th birthday celebrations on Saturday. They also visited the home of late ANC President Nelson Mandela in Qunu.

A day has been set for party president Cyril Ramaphosa and his team to visit the grave of the late statesman. The ANC president says visiting all the graves of their late leaders is an attempt to rekindle the governing party’s character of selfless service to the people.

Although they were not allowed near Madiba’s graveside, party Secretary General Ace Magashule thanked the Mandela family for setting a proper date for the party’s top brass to visit Madiba’s grave. From the Mandela home, the ANC leadership went out to address mini rallies in some parts of the Eastern Cape.

President Ramaphosa and National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe interacted with residents from Madiba’s home village. The ANC president told a packed hall that all the elected members of the National Executive Committee have different talents that the ANC and the country desperately need.

Ramaphosa concluded his day-long engagement with another rally in King Williams Town.

On Friday he will do a walk-about in Mdantsane township and address the ANC’s 106th anniversary gala dinner.

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