IN PICS: Ramaphosa rubs shoulders with crowd at taxi rank

Walking through dusty, potholed streets, speaking Afrikaans and lifting babies, you would swear that President Cyril Ramaphosa was on an election campaign trail in the Northern Cape yesterday, ahead of the ANC’s January 8 Statement.

From a morning visit to Kimberley’s Last Stop Taxi Rank in Craven Street, door-to-door stopoffs in Colville and a community meeting in Roodepen, Ramaphosa was on a charm offensive that made everyone, including a few Democratic Alliance (DA) supporters, follow him as though he was a messiah in Kimberley.

A smiling and softly spoken Ramaphosa reminded everyone wherever he went that he was not on a mobilisation drive, but was in the province “to hear people’s concerns”.

After talking to commuters at Last Stop, Ramaphosa walked towards the food stalls of Sarah Mabija and Virginia Seleka to sample what was on the menu.

“I showed him the chicken, beef stew and pap. He nodded that it smelled good and said he would buy a plate for lunch. I am proud and excited that President Ramaphosa could see what I cooked,” said Mabija.

Seleka said: “He bought cakes from my stall and ate and I feel so good about it.

“He asked me where I was going. I am so happy to have seen him,” commuter Sanna van der Linder said.

Later addressing crowds in Afrikaans near the taxi rank, Ramaphosa said: “Ek is baie bly om hier te wees en bly om almal van julle te sien” (I am happy to be here and happy to see all of you).

“You have a government that cares for you. This is the home of the ANC’s founding secretary-general Sol Plaatje and the ANC has now come home.

“Wherever we have been here, we have tea with you in your homes. We know you love the ANC.”

Ramaphosa said the January 8 Statement, to be delivered tomorrow, would outline what the party wanted to do this year and how it would address ordinary people’s problems.

Wearing a blue DA T-shirt, party volunteer Thelma Waldeck said she was among the predominantly ANC crowd because Ramaphosa “is also my president”.

“I hope he can address our problems of water, faulty toilets and electricity,” she said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to supporters and commuters at Kimberly Taxi Rank, 9 January 2019, after his walk about before the the rally on Saturday. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to supporters and commuters at Kimberly Taxi Rank, 9 January 2019, after his walk about before the the rally on Saturday. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to supporters and commuters at Kimberly Taxi Rank, 9 January 2019, after his walk about before the the rally on Saturday. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

Colville resident Lydia Kock (R) with some of her family during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the area as part of his door to door visits at Colville – Floors Area, Ward 28 in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

Colville resident Lydia Kock, middle, with some of her family during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the area as part of his door to door visits at Colville – Floors Area, Ward 28 in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to commuters at Kimberley taxi rank in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

Some of Colville resident Lydia Kock’s family members during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the area as part of his door to door visits at Colville – Floors Area, Ward 28 in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to commuters at Kimberley taxi rank in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to commuters at Kimberley taxi rank in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to commuters at Kimberley taxi rank in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa plays with a child at Kimberley taxi rank in Northern Cape, 9 January 2019, as part of the build-up to the 108th birthday celebrations of the ANC and mobilising members, supporters and the general public to attend the historic celebrations. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to commuters at Kimberley taxi rank in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

Colville resident Lydia Kock with some of her family during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the area as part of his door to door visits at Colville – Floors Area, Ward 28 in Northern Cape, 9 January 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

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