ANC ropes in mini Madiba magic in attempt to make Western Cape inroads

The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape has enlisted Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mayibuye Mandela to work some ‘Madiba Magic’ on its campaign in the province for the 2021 local government elections.

This as the party faces a fierce battle for leadership in the highly contested province where the Democratic Alliance (DA) sees a considerable dominance.

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Mandela, who has been involved in a number of political organisations over the last few years, says joining the ANC in the Western Cape feels like coming home.

“I have grown up in this organisation. I was born and bred in this organisation, but there were differences of our leaders, our leaders misusing the youth…” said Mandela, before explaining why he has decided to return.

“I will respect the policies of the ANC but not if their policies are to fight people. Not to say I am deployed, I also came to Western Cape since I know the way of Western Cape leadership, so I have come to assist as youth, because youth don’t vote.”

Mandela says his first item of business is to highlight the plight of people living in dire conditions in townships such as Khayelitsha.

This week, the ANC’s provincial convener in the Western Cape, Lerumo Kalako, conceded that the party had learnt tough lessons in its losses over the years, including the 2016 local government election. The ANC only won one municipality out of 30 across the Western Cape.

Mandela says the people of Cape Town will be lent an ear over their troubles this weekend, as the party seeks to strengthen its campaign against the ruling Democratic Alliance in Western Cape municipalities.

The party has vowed that the extent of its defeat in the 2016 local government elections will not be repeated.

“Our internal vetting processes have also led to some of our comrades having to be removed from the lists due to pending cases and other matters which have been identified by the integrity committee as well as the electoral committee,” Kalako said at the time.

– simnikiwe@citizen.co.za