By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu- Motsiri says members of the ANC are loyal to the party, and support their leaders as long as they are still members of the ANC, not when they defect to form their own parties.
Bhengu-Motsiri made this assertion at an ANC rally at Phuthaditjhaba stadium on April 28, where she also expressed confidence that the party will retain the Free State in the May 29 polls.
“Certain members were expelled from the ANC and their popularity is yet to be tested in terms of the political party that they have formed. It is for the people to judge if there is such a thing as popularity, given the fact that when people lead the ANC they get supported by members of the ANC as leaders of the ANC for as long as they are with the ranks of the party.
“As soon as you move away from the ANC you hardly take away members of the ANC. Members of the ANC are very loyal to the ANC brand; they support leaders because they are leaders of the ANC,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
Speaking to the media, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the support that the ANC is getting is very heart-warming and that their election campaign is gaining momentum.
“We are certain of victory; I am certain of the victory of the ANC as opposed to what is said by doomsayers and those who do not wish us well. All I have to say is watch this space: after the 29th of May you will see what the ANC is worth.
“People have turned out here today in their thousands, tens of thousands and that obviously gives me a lot of confidence. In their own understanding, the ANC should continue to govern, should continue to do what it’s doing despite some of the weakness that there have been seen.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing supporters at Phuthaditjhaba stadium.
“They have confidence that the ANC has the capability and the leadership to do well and to correct itself. Whether people like it or not the ANC is here to stay, and they better make peace with that and accept that they will always play second fiddle while the ANC leads,” Ramaphosa said.
Both the head of state and the ANC’s national spokesperson shared the sentiment that their election campaign is gaining massive momentum and the warm reception that the President – who is the face of this campaign – is receiving from communities in the Free State province shows that the ANC is winning this province.
