A group of disgruntled residents in Bloemfontein disrupted ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech earlier today during the party’s election campaign.
Community healthcare workers were demanding that Ramaphosa addresses their grievances regarding being on contracts without benefits. The Mangaung Service Delivery Forum secretary Makamole Mashushubele says they will opt for shutdown tomorrow if they are denied an opportunity to talk to the ANC president.
“We are preparing for a shutdown because we are not happy, unsatisfied with the CHW, that [ANC] president was here but did not answer the questions that were supposed to be answered. So now because of that, we are going for shutdown tomorrow. We are going to announce how we are going to go with the shutdown,” says Mashushubele.
Ramaphosa visited wards three and seven in Bloemfontein as he campaigns for the party ahead of the November first local government elections. He used the opportunity to introduce ANC candidates. He appealed to them to hit the ground running if elected and help bring good services to the community. Ramaphosa has been in the Free State since the weekend.
“This time we want municipalities that would work for our communities. We don’t want municipalities that would fail our people. We want councillors who are committed to work for our people and show that they are for the people,” says Ramaphosa.
VIDEO: ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses supporters in Bloemfontein:
Ramaphosa earlier said the ANC will win the embattled Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality in the Free State.
Ramaphosa says municipal officials should understand that basic services such as water and sanitation are a basic right of every resident.
Speaking to the community at Intabazwe in Harrismith, Ramaphosa said he is aware that the people are angry with the party and that he’s glad he came in person to address their issues.
