ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ANC EC PROVINCIAL SECRETARY
14 August 2014
As the ANC in the Eastern Cape, we welcome the outcome of by elections took place in ward 40 of Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality. We want to thank the people who voted for the ANC in that ward. Ward 40 was previously led by the opposition that happened to be Democratic Alliance. Majority of people of that ward have decided to vote differently. We advise that the media and anyone with interest must visit that ward and engage them to find out why they did that. As we have been campaigning in that ward in the previous weeks, it came clear that those who supported DA in the previous election have now realised that they cannot be part of a DA fictitious dream of taking Nelson Mandela in 2016, its pathetic and not possible. It is them that exposed lack of vision and terrible leadership in DA. In many times, they have mentioned that DA does not understand the struggles and challenges of the poor people and therefore cannot have working solutions to them.
They now agreed to be aligned with a clear vision and a mission that has been sustained for years. They now want to be part of the organisation that makes thing happen. They now want to be part of developing and moving South Africa forward. In our message, the found substance and relevance. They showed that in the ballot yesterday.
The voters of that ward understand very well the serious challenges faced by the municipality, however they have eyes to see that the ANC is making numerous strides to get things right, while they also have realised that in actual fact, DA is part of creating the challenges that makes it difficult to stabilize governance in the municipality.
As the ANC, we wish to send the strong warning message to the DA and those who think DA will take Nelson Mandela Metro in 2016, that Metro belongs to the people who immensely contributed in the struggles of poor black people in that area, it cannot be politically correct to lose it to an organisation like DA. People of Metro are patient with the ANC, they understand intensity of difficulties faced by the municipality, but they know that there is no way they would allow that municipality to be under the leadership of an opposition.
We are particularly happy that we have won ward 40. As the province we are working tirelessly to have a strong organisation in that region, together we putting all efforts to have responsive governance. We plead with the people of Nelson Mandela that all their challenges are frustrating us, we are with them, we will have a brake through.
We also wish to use this opportunity to dismiss the recent reports by Daily Dispatch that there is possible reshuffle to take place in Nelson Mandela Metro, Mbhashe, King Sabatha Dalindyebo and Ngqushwa Municipalities.
This statement must be attributed to the ANC EC Provincial Secretary, Cde Oscar Mabuyane.
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