By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted that the governing party has in the recent past been found wanting in several aspects, and promised voters that all that would change after the local government elections.
While the fiercely contested polls have been largely difficult to call, Ramaphosa seemed confident the governing party would make a sweeping victory after November 1.
Ramaphosa addressed supporters at the Siyanqoba rally on Friday evening during the final stretch of election campaigning at Thokoza Park in Soweto.
Thousands gathered to listen to the party’s promises of better service delivery and the eradication of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
As Ramaphosa took to the stage just after 7pm, the weather made a dramatic turn – bringing strong winds, heavy rain, lightning and roaring thunder.
Ramaphosa told supporters it was a sure sign of victory at the polls.
“The rain that’s coming down are the blessings. That is a clear sign that victory is coming.
“We know that in our culture and traditions that when it rains when you have a nice occasion, it means luck, it means good fortune and it means success. This is what is happening to the African National Congress. We are going to emerge victorious from this election,” he said.
The party’s election campaign has centred around Ramaphosa and other senior officials – unlike other parties who have fielded their candidate councillors and mayors.
Ramaphosa told supporters the party was in the process of securing the best candidates for the job.
Mayoral candidates will be unveiled after the elections.
“We are going to turn our local government around and we are going to have a local government we are going to be proud of because we are deploying people, young people, women and men who are experienced.
“Our municipalities are going to be a lot better than what we have had in the past years. We are going to make sure.”
Ramaphosa also welcomed the criticism levelled against the party.
“We have also heard about the great difficulties that our people are experiencing.
“As we have got through the country, people have raised these issues very clearly, very fearlessly, and let me say, sometimes they have raised them in anger. They have sometimes been critical of our performance in local government.
“We have heard about the ANC’s own weaknesses and shortcomings. People are critical of the ANC because they know that the ANC listens,” he said.
Despite the bad reviews on the party’s performance, Ramaphosa pleaded for the party to see another term in office.
Meanwhile Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi was rushed to hospital after she was involved in a car accident.
Cosatu confirmed the news in a statement and said she got into an accident while on her way to the African National Congress (ANC) Siyanqoba rally in Soweto on Friday evening.
While addressing the moderate crowd at at Thokoza Park, ANC Head of Elections Fikile Mbalula said Losi had unfortunately been involved in an accident and would no longer be able to participate in the rally.