By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says the party aims for a “decisive victory” in 2024’s watershed general election.
Mbalula said, the ANC was not working towards a coalition government, but outright victory, despite its participation in the national coalitions dialogue.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile was leading discussions on the national dialogue on coalitions.
But smaller parties raised some of the concerns on the proposals raised by the ANC and DA in the national dialogue.
He said this was a matter that would have to be sorted out during this process of national dialogue.
Mbalula was addressing the media as the party officially launched the 2019 elections manifesto review on Thursday.
Launched under the theme: ‘The Year of Decisive Action to Advance the People’s Interests and Renew Our Movement’, Mbalula declared September as the month of mass popular engagement to provide public accountability for the decisions taken in the past four years.
“Over twenty-five years, the party has improved most people’s lives, said Mbalula.
“We have learned the harsh impact on society and economy arising from the loss of integrity in State institutions, business, as well as in political and other formations. We have learned hard lessons about the vigilance needed to stop creeping lawlessness, greed, and selfishness from taking root.”
He said the party should have acted faster and decisively on such matters.
Mbalula, however, admitted the road ahead would not be easy for the ANC, as it expected resistance to the fight against corruption.
He further highlighted that the former KZN provincial deputy chair Mike Mabuyakhulu will hit the ground running, heading the election campaign as the ANC goes for broke in an attempt to retain the once-safe province that is seemingly slipping out of its grasp.
He will, according to the ANC, not be taking over the election machinery from the elected provincial leaders, but will help the campaign.
Mabuyakhulu, a veteran in KZN politics and a strong ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa, has been away from active politics since 2021 after having voluntarily stepped aside as per ANC rules after being charged.
He faced charges relating to R28.5m paid by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government to host what became a failed North Sea Jazz Festival in the province in 2012 that collapsed.
Mbalula also weighed in the taxi strike, saying the Western Cape behaves as if it is “an island” and not part of South Africa.
While condemning the act of violence, Mbalula said the party supports the taxi operators.
“This matter affects our people. We have been in talks with Santaco, and we have told them that your demands are legit but do not burn your own people in buses. The legitimacy of your decisions is undermined by erratic activities.
“But your demands as the ANC, we are with you. We are with Santaco on what they are fighting for and the intervention of the minister guided by the National Land Transport Act.
“There is this problem we are dealing with in South Africa that Western Cape is an island. It wants to project itself as the people who uphold the rule of law. You can never resolve the issue of mobility and public means of transport for the working class and think that you can resolve it without the taxi industry.”
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Video Courtesy of MYANC.