THE MERCURY
ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa charmed the crowds in Empangeni on Tuesday. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo
Durban – ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa campaigned aggressively in Zululand on Tuesday – continuing his efforts to introduce himself to President Jacob Zuma’s stronghold.
Ramaphosa received a formal welcome in Empangeni and Esikhawini where he visited taxi ranks, shopping centres and townships.
He was introduced to the locals by KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC and ANC provincial chairman Senzo Mchunu, with members of the local ANC.
However, his singing and dancing on stage was not as charismatic as Zuma, ANC supporters said.
One elderly woman struggled to pronounce his name when she introduced herself and complained that she had problems receiving her pension.
She said that she was sick and had walked from her home to meet Ramaphosa as news had spread that he would be visiting he area.
She battled to get her tongue around the name “Cyril” causing peals of laughter.
Ramaphosa wrote down the elderly woman’s details and promised that he would investigate her problem.
The ANC deputy president was mobbed by women dressed in party T-shirts who rushed to take his picture and meet him.
One of the ANC members stopped a television reporter from asking questions about Zimbabwe, saying she would “just complicate” things.
When asked by The Mercury about the his position on Zimbabwe, after Zuma this week congratulated President Robert Mugabe on his victory, he replied: “The ANC’s position on Zimbabwe is as President Jacob Zuma put it firmly this week. I don’t have another position.”
Addressing a rally at Esikhawini FET College, Ramaphosa called on KZN to ensure a 90 percent victory in next year’s general elections.
“We are going to the elections now. When we go there, we have a record of what we have done. We are not like other parties. We don’t lie, gossip and create rumours; our record speaks for itself,” Ramaphosa said.
In a swipe at DA leader Helen Zille, Ramaphosa told the crowd the ANC wanted to take back the Western Cape from the “madam”.
“KZN has 930 delegates. You’re our leading province. KZN is the home of the ANC – the ANC belongs to KZN. I want nothing less than 80 percent from KZN,” he said, informing residents it was up to them to ensure Zuma continues to run the country.
Ramaphosa urged a young man who was unemployed to consider studying and to work hard. He emphasised the importance of education and took the young man’s number, promising him that he would ensure that he secured funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
He also said the party would not tolerate corruption.
“We will root out corruption within our ranks,” he said.
The Mercury
