No other political party is capable of governing South Africa except the African National Congress, President Jacob Zuma told thousands of supporters in Johannesburg on Sunday.
He addressed ANC supporters who filled the 62,000-seat Fly Emirates Stadium for the ANC’s “Siyanqoba” rally ahead of the August 3 municipal polls. Zuma attacked the Democratic Alliance which governs the Western Cape.
“No other party can govern this country… not even a white party with stooges. The ANC must win back Cape Town and make sure transformation reaches that part as well… Cape Town is a tale of two cities, where the needs of rich are prioritised those of the poor are not… the ANC will work hard to win Cape Town,” he said.
South Africa had changed for the better over the years. Metropolitan municipalities, such as Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, were efficiently governed under the ANC, with Tshwane having transformed by renaming its streets after the country’s heroes.
“Tshwane has done very well in investing in youth development. It is a city with free wifi, especially for our you and students to keep them connected to each other and the world at large,” Zuma said.
Zuma’s speech was also televised on a big screen at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, where a crowd of about 20,000 gathered for the event.
When Zuma’s picture came up on the screen the crowd cheered and when he started singing in Johannesburg, the supporters in Durban joined in.
Prior to Zuma speaking, KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairman Sihle Zikalala addressed the party faithful in the stadium.
He criticised the more than 200 independent candidates contesting the local government elections in KwaZulu-Natal.
Most are former ANC members standing for election because of dissatisfaction with the process of nominating councillor candidates in the ANC.
Zikalala claimed many members of the National Freedom Party – which has been excluded from participating in Wednesday’s elections – were present at the stadium and had joined the ANC.
On stage with Zikalala were Zuma’s former wife and outgoing African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as well as Zandile Gumede, the ANC’s eThekwini regional chairwoman, widely expected to be the next mayor of Durban.
The municipal elections on Wednesday have been described as the country’s most highly contested elections since 1994.
The ANC is facing fierce competition from opposition parties, such as the DA and the Economic Freedom Fighters, for a share in the country’s municipalities this year.
The two largest opposition parties have been making inroads and gaining support in the highly contested metropolitan municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane (Pretoria), and Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth).
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