Ramaphosa urges KwaMashu residents to vote

Durban’s largest townships were painted black, green and gold on Saturday. The African National Congress (ANC) was on its election campaign drive urging voters to support the party.

Party leader Cyril Ramaphosa listened residents on challenges they face every day.

Our President will now address a public meeting kwaMashu In KwaZulu Natal.

The President has been with the people of this community the entire day. #GrowSouthAfrica #ThumaMina pic.twitter.com/xIdZg0WShR

— #GrowSouthAfrica (@MYANC) March 30, 2019

WATCH: ANC President, @cyrilRamaphosa on a door to door kwaMashu. #GrowSouthAfrica

https://t.co/RcvCl3uqBs

— #GrowSouthAfrica (@MYANC) March 30, 2019

There are 39 days to go to the General Election and parties are out and about in an effort to woo voters. During the door to door campaign, desperate residents tried, some in vain to get the attention of the leaders.

The ANC in the province is currently dealing with arrest of some its leaders in connection with the politically-motivated killings.

The party’s campaign drive continues on Sunday.

WATCH: President @cyrilRamaphosa speaks in KwaMashu. #GrowSouthAfrica #ThumaMina https://t.co/JtUgVR0AGD

— #GrowSouthAfrica (@MYANC) March 30, 2019

Political killings

Ramaphosa applauded the work done by the police task team investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal. He  cautioned the team to make sure of their facts before executing arrests.

This follows the withdrawal of charges against ANC Harry Gwala district mayor Mluleki Ndobe by the the Umzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court. He says the team should continue doing its job without political interference.

“A lot of people have died here in KZN in political attacks. We’ve established a committee to investigate since then a lot of people have been arrested, others have been sentenced. So we can see there are results showing. We say the law should take its course. But when they do their job, we want them to be absolutely certain and not to around arresting people without proper evidence. If there are people who have been really found in the wrong the law must deal with them and we don’t want there to be political interference.”

South Africans to give ANC another chance

ANC deputy president David Mabuza says despite allegations of corruption and factionalism, he’s confident that the governing party will be voted back into power with a decisive majority after the May 8 polls.

After interacting with residents during a door-to-door campaign in Rethabiseng township in Bronchorspruit, east of Tshwane, on Saturday, Mabuza said South Africans were prepared to give the ANC another chance.

Most residents of the township complained about a lack of jobs and basic services such as water and sanitation.

Mabuza says the time has come for party leaders to close ranks for the sake of the ANC and the country.

Duarte rejects Veterans’ League call

ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte has rejected the party’s Veterans’ League’s call demanding that cadres who are either facing criminal charges or corruption allegations recuse themselves from the party lists of candidates to Parliament.

Duarte was on an election campaign trail in Nomzamo township near Stellenbosch.

“I think the Veterans’ League and their views are somewhat problematic at this time. They must get out on the ground and mobilise among the people and deal with the issues after the elections. We can’t be held back by anybody, we’re not going to be held back by them either.”

Magashule denounces infighting

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has conceded that the infighting in the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality in Qwaqwa in the Free State is hampering service delivery in the area.

This after 15 councillors including the mayor at the municipality were fired by the party. The councillors had defied the party instruction when they elected the new mayor last year.

Magashule says the infighting blocks development in communities.

“Well there can’t be any service delivery when you don’t have a stable municipality and this is what our councillors have to understand that when they fight among themselves they disadvantage our communities. It’s not about any political party. It’s services for our people. It is for everybody who’s a resident of Maluti-a-Phofung.”