Let us show a united front – Mashatile
ALEXANDRA – ANC's Gauteng regional chairperson, Paul Mashatile calls for ANC unity ahead of the party's 54th conference.
The African National Congress (ANC) chairperson for Gauteng, Paul Mashatile, paid a visit to the people of Alexandra on Monday to discuss the build-up to the party’s 54th national conference in December.
The meeting, dubbed the Cadre’s Forum, was held at the Sankopano Hall, and ANC supporters came out in their numbers to hear what the party’s plans are leading up to the conference. Although he did not reveal who the province is supporting at the conference, Mashatile said it was important for ANC members to show a united front.
“Let us not go to the conference divided, let us show unity so that our province can be stronger.” He further said that the province is expected to have reached a decision on who they will be supporting at the conference by the end of November.
Mashatile stressed that the ANC might lose power if it is divided. “If we are not united, we might lose the war of governance. [So] it starts with you, cadres.” He said that due to recent media reports, the ANC which people used to revere, was no more.
“The ANC is now associated with corruption and scandals, let us move away from that, cadres. Let us bring back the ANC that everybody knows and loves. That is the only way we can win this.
“We do not need leaders who go into power for self-enrichment. We need leaders who will care for the people of our country.”
Before Mashatile began to address the people, Ward 105 councillor Tefo Raphadu interrupted the meeting and asked that attendees who were wearing shirts that showed support for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, take them off. He said this was against the rules of the ANC.
Mashatile told Raphadu that while it is well within their rights to support whoever they like, members should refrain from campaigning at ANC gatherings. “The party is already divided. And if the party is divided, it will suffer and that is not what we want,” Mashatile explained.
The ANC national conference will be held at Nasrec from 16 to 20 December where a new party leader will be chosen for the 2019 national elections.
