Publications
Partners
Despite coming out strongly against President Jacob Zuma this year, even calling for him to resign, ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada still believes that the ANC is the only party of choice for South Africans.
In an open letter penned following the Constitutional Court judgment on Nkandla that Zuma had failed to “uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law”, Kathrada wrote that if he were Zuma, he would step
down.
But on the election campaign trail with the ANC in Orange Farm in Gauteng, the former Robben Island prisoner was full of unflinching loyalty for the liberation movement turned political party.
“The ANC is still the party of choice because it can be the only party of choice,” he said.
“The ANC brought us freedom. It led the people of South Africa to freedom. For the first time after 300 years of apartheid rule, it was the ANC that brought freedom to our country. Freedom did not fall from heaven, freedom was fought for. Freedom was sacrificed for.
“With freedom comes responsibility, and that responsibility falls on the shoulders of young people, because they are the majority of the people.
“They are the ones who are benefiting most from freedom. So the responsibility is to themselves, their parents and to the country.
“We hope and we know that the youth of today will carry out the duties imposed on them.”
Kathrada gave a brief address to ANC candidates and campaign workers, emphasising that the party’s success in bringing about freedom was owed to selfless volunteers who did the work of the organisation without expecting anything in return.
In response to a question, Kathrada said he didn’t believe that this spirit had since left the organisation and that people were working only for self-gain.
“No, we must not confuse what individuals do with the membership of the ANC. [There are those] who are committed to the spirit of volunteerism. That must be carried more and more to the younger people.
“The ANC is not a rich organisation. We must still depend on the volunteerism of its cadres to take us forward.
“But I am confident from what I have seen over the years that the spirit of volunteerism is still there,” he said.
On Wednesday night, the ANC kicked off the final phase of its election campaign with a countdown to victory at a lavish, star-studded event at The Market theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg, where Zuma addressed celebrities, politicians and supporters.
Joining Gauteng ANC chairperson Paul Mashatile on the campaign trail were Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, national executive committee member Malusi Gigaba and former president Kgalema Motlanthe.
Veteran human rights lawyer George Bizos was billed to join the canvassing, but did not attend because he was ill.
