By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday seemed unfazed by efforts to unseat him at the governing party’s upcoming national general council (NGC).
Ramaphosa spoke after laying wreaths on the graves of Struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and her daughter, Zindzi Mandela, in Fourways, north of Johannesburg.
NGCs are not about removing or installing anyone. The NGC is about renewing our policies, the implementation and where we are and thereafter we hold our policy conference, and thereafter we hold a leadership electing conference, which is in 2022,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa has described Madikizela-Mandela as a defender of the vulnerable, who left a legacy for many to emulate.
“She was called the mother of the nation because not only of her standing but also her deeds. Her deeds that fired up the commitment and determination of many of our people to fight against the evil system of apartheid when our leaders were either incarcerated or when they were in exile.”
The President also called on South Africans to draw strength from what the woman largely regarded as ” mother of the nation” stood for.
He also announced that the Covid-19 vaccination programme would be sped up.
“The minister of health (Dr Zweli Mkhize) will soon be announcing that now we have signed all the agreements and that we are waiting for delivery and the vaccination programme will now get under way with a great deal of speed,” Ramaphosa said.
He explained that the ANC national executive committee demanded that the vaccination process be sped up.
“That is what the government is going to focus on,” Ramaphosa promised.
Friday 2 April marks exactly three years since the freedom fighter died at Milpark Hospital following a long illness. Ramaphosa joined members of the Mandela family and other African National Congress national leaders in marking the anniversary.