ANC is the only party we know, trust
Johannesburg - The ANC is the only party that South Africans could trust to deliver services, the ruling party's alliance partners said on Sunday. Speaking to a packed Ellis Park Stadium, which seats 45 000 people, the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco), SA Communist Party as well the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) all pledged their allegiance to the ruling party and promised to show up at voting stations in their numbers come August 3.
"Sanco is firm in its belief that the ANC is the only trusted liberation movement for any change in our country," said the organisation's president, Richard Mdakane.
"Without the ANC we will be unable to deal with the challenges in our country." He said those who had showed up at the stadium were there to show their trust in the party.
Listening to the masses
Cosatu's general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali echoed Mdakane's words and urged workers to wake up as early as 04:00 to get to voting stations early on Wednesday.
He praised the ANC for travelling to every corner of the country to listen to the pleas of the masses.
"The ANC has changed the lives of many South Africans... and workers are confident that the ANC is the only party capable to deliver services to its people.
"Only the ANC has a formidable track record of our struggles," Ntshalintshali said.
He warned workers against being wooed by "enemies" who had "stolen" their colours and struggle songs, saying they were not working in the workers' interests.
Not a blank cheque
The SACP's general secretary, Blade Nzimande, told the crowd it was important not only to vote for the ANC because it's leader Zuma had been at the forefront of uMkhonto weSizwe but also because of the work the party had done over the years.
"There is no other government that has given three million people houses for free anywhere else in the world," Nzimande said.
He asked the ANC to ensure that the councillors appointed in the respective wards did their jobs."When we vote for you, it is not a blank cheque. Please do your jobs, don't disappear."
He urged councillors to hold regular meetings with the community and follow up on issues raised. "Don't just fold your hands," he said.
He then turned to Zuma and asked that he speak to employers to give their workers the day off so that they could exercise their right to vote.
