Electioneering for the local government elections ratcheted up a gear at the weekend, with the two biggest opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), unveiling their election manifestos at very different launches – a virtual event for the DA, and a rally by the EFF.
Monday will see the biggest party, the African National Congress (ANC), reveal its pledges and promises under lockdown conditions, with only 500 expected to attend the manifesto launch in Tshwane’s Church Square at 5 pm.
The ANC wants to regain control of metros like Tshwane and Joburg that it lost in the 2016 elections and turn around a steady decline in electoral support.
The big sell is on, with all parties essentially sending the same message: “This is what we will do for you if you give us your vote.”
The ANC’s 2016 elections manifesto painted a rosy picture of a party that was delivering on the ground, but when it comes to local government, there is no longer a good story to tell where the ANC governs.
On Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke of the quality of the nearly 10,000 candidates the ANC will be fielding across the country, of whom the youngest was just 20 years old.
Ramaphosa said the 4,937 proportional representation candidates and the 4,468 ward candidates were chosen only after a rigorous process to choose the most committed and capable people.
“Our young candidates will be joining hands with experienced older councillors, enabling us to build on the gains we have made. They will learn from our mistakes, for we have made mistakes that we are admitting,” Ramaphosa said,
The ANC’s manifesto is expected to acknowledge mistakes made by the governing party, but it will also stress that the ANC was doing things differently this time around – getting communities to help select candidates being just one example.
-EWN
In other news – Gospel star Winnie Mashaba ditches her husband of 16 years
Gospel musician and TV presenter Winnie Mashaba has separated from her husband of 16 years. The O Mohau Messiah hitmaker has also allegedly dropped Makgogo Makgopa from her management team and is now being managed by Tswako Music and Projects, which is owned by Makgopa’s nephew Khaitjadi.
The Amahubo Gospel series presenter declined to comment on the separation this week, saying she did not want to discuss her private life out of respect for her in-laws and “any possible future in-laws”. Learn More
