Share

ANC campaigns on Maimane’s doorstep

accreditation

The ANC in Gauteng took its election campaign to the doorstep of DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s family home in Dobsonville, where former president Kgalema Motlanthe had a brief discussion with his father.

But Motlanthe denied that this had anything to do with trying to convert the family, who have traded their yellow and green for the DA’s blue.

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe and ANC Gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile during a door to door campaign in Dobsonville, Soweto. Pictures: Leon Sadiki/City Press

The ANC’s unannounced visit – which came a day before the DA’s door-to-door campaign in the area – appeared to have startled the family, to the point where a teenage girl was seen running to try to close the gate and restrict access to the ANC leadership.

But Motlanthe was able to steal a moment with Maimane’s father, who was at his next door neighbour’s house.

Motlanthe was not willing to give away anything about the discussion, but told City Press he owed it to the family to go show some respect as he was in the vicinity.

Maimane, who was out campaigning in the Eastern Cape, could not be reached on his cellphone, but it’s understood he wasn’t too pleased.

His spokesperson, Mabine Seabe, said Maimane’s family and the people of Dobsonville are looking for change and that the ANC’s visit was made out of desperation.

He said Maimane was aware that the ANC leaders were outside his home.

The party would be in Dobsonville with Johannesburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba and Maimane today to spread the DA’s message of change.

“The people of Dobsonville and Joburg believe in change and the ANC will be rejected at the ballot box.

“The family, like Maimane, voted for the ANC before, but the ANC of yesteryear is not the ANC of today. His parents vote DA,” Seabe said.

But Motlanthe was adamant that there was nothing sinister about the visit.

“It’s always important when there is a prominent citizen who lives in the area to drop in – not to try and convert the people who belong to other parties, but to pay your respects and to inform them why you are in the area. It’s really just good manners.

He was joined by Gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile, and Joburg mayor Parks Tau arrived later in the day.

In other areas, like Bram Fischerville, there was no one brave enough to shut their gates in Motlanthe’s face, probably because they didn’t have any.

With dust on their shoes from walking along the gravel roads, he and other leaders were warmly welcomed as they exchanged pleasantries with those lucky enough to have secured RDP houses in the area.

But there were also complaints from residents about the slow pace of service delivery.

ANC to do well in local elections

Meanwhile, Motlanthe believes the ANC would do well in the elections and that people would vote for the party, not just because of its institutional memory, but because it was brave enough to face the public following a many controversies.

“There is no substitute for first voter contact. All the other problems can only have a negative effect if there is no direct contact with the voters. If they have questions and concerns, they need to put them directly to representatives and except to receive direct answers. That’s what sustains people’s confidence,” he said.

Motlanthe has been vocal about the internal problems in the ANC, and has even urged the ANC to own up to the Nkandla issue and implement Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendations relating to the multimillion-rand upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s home at a time when it was unpopular to hold that view.

Amid the booming sound of ANC election songs, Motlanthe told a group of ANC supporters during a mini rally after lunch to be wary of independent candidates who were trying to use the name of the ANC to get votes.

Motlanthe weighed in on the crisis facing the SABC, and he told City Press that the most important thing was to ensure that proper parliamentary oversight took place.

“We must ensure there is that oversight role all the time,” he said, explaining that previously the SABC board was dissolved by Parliament when things did not go well.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you believe that the various planned marches against load shedding will prompt government to bring solutions and resolve the power crisis?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes
21% - 103 votes
No
79% - 398 votes
Vote