
=====================================================================
Local Government Elections
=====================================================================

Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

[         w

MEDIA RELEASE
 FOR IMMEDIATE USE
 30 NOVEMBER 2000

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

With only five(5) days left to the Local Government Elections on the 5th December 2000, the ANC in the Eastern Cape would like to express 
our feelings on the campaign and the elections. We are pleased that after a vigorous period of talking with our people, we are now rounding 
up our election programme. All corners of our communities have been reached both in urban and rural areas. Our campaigns reached all 
sectors of society (women, youth, people with disability, workers, traders, religious communities, traditional communities, sports 
organisations and many more). We have tried to reach every nook and crevice.

The campaign was free of any form of physical violence. We are pleased with this for political stability and tolerance is absolutely 
important to us. The campaign was, however, not free from threats of violence from some irresponsible people. We hope these will remain 
nothing else but threats. But we would urge the security departments not to take the threats lightly.

We also would like to thank agents and members for refusing to fall into the trap of a posters-removing warfare.Our posters have 
persistently been defaced or removed in a number of areas. We responded by replacing them instead of lynching those PAID to do the damage. 
We understand that our people need the money to put up posters of our opposition and a some of them need the R7 000 they are paid to stand 
as Independents against the ANC long after the money is spent.These are not new strategies by our rich adversaries. But as in the past, we 
know that our people will vote for the ANC after using this blood money and smoke the peace pipe with us when the euphoria of the Lists 
is over.

During the campaigns, our people again raised their concerns on what we still have not delivered. But they also appreciated what has been 
done. Above all, they showed a matured understanding that transformation and development cannot be achieved in one day. One government 
veteran from Idutywa puts it this way : The Roman Empire took generations to build and at the end it became very strong. We agreed with 
him. But we wasnt to redouble our efforts and change our peoples situation sooner than later.

We are also pleased with the matured understanding displayed by the members and supporters of the NNP. They have not been fooled by the 
hate-the-ANC tactics of the D.A. These NNP supporters know that the DA stands for two things only: (1) the conquest of the Nationalist 
spirit of their forefathers by the liberal philosophy of those who colonised both African and Afrikaner. These supporters of the NNP have 
correctly identified the ANC as the sole custodian in our country of broad nationalism. Their declared and undeclared support for the ANC 
is a major breakthrough in our endeavors to build a united, non-racial and non-sexist South African nation. The days of Swart Gevaar are 
history (2) the DA only stands for the control of power rather than change. Their prospects of success are very remote.

The descendants of the Khoi and the San (Coloured people) as well as those of Asian descent have also realised that the big talk about 
no black enough is nothing but a scare-tactic by people yearning for jobs. Whilst we understand the emotions behind the tactic, we 
deplore this cheap manipulation of our people. We are pleased with the emergence of more and more leaders from these communities. This will 
lead to direct representation.

We are pleased to not that all our regions where traditional life is practised, have improved their relations with traditional leaders. We 
also support the open-minded and consultative approach our government adopted in the resolution of the issues of the powers and functions 
of Chiefs. We have said before and we repeat it again, this issue will need an ongoing discussion before a near perfect situation is 
reached. Life changes and so do institutions that govern peoples lives. The affected people themselves must manage that change and give it 
direction.

Our campaign showed that many young people still do not comprehend the importance of moving forward with change.This is clearly because 
they have no experience of where we come from as a country and where our situation of gross disparities come from. We however, urge our 
children not to quickly fall into the trap of what liberal teachers drill into their heads. They must open their eyes and ask why South 
Africa is still divided into two nations with poverty levels directly linked to the colour of the skins of our people. Our children must 
vote for the ONLY PARTY that campaigns FOR socio-economic change instead of AGAINST other parties.

HIV/AIDS has been used as a new tool to manipulate the emotions of our people. Liars who are not supplying free drugs even though they are 
in charge of a whole Province, are now promising free drugs. Our people will not be easily fooled even though they are in pain with 
HIV/AIDS. We are doing everything within the Law to fight HIV/AIDS and all same people know that. We pledge to intensify our efforts.

The last word must go to members of the Tripartite Alliance and SANCO. Our Alliance was forged out of experience and on the basis of solid 
principles. We cannot say the same of the DA. Nobody can. These Elections have tested us. But we were equal to the tests. Let us march on 
again, side by side, until all our freedom has been achieved. Some activists will fall by the wayside. True revolutionaries will struggle 
for the rest of their lives. Our people deserve the latter.

We are confident that we will win this Election with an overwhelming majority. This should not make anyone to become complacent. Each and 
every vote is important.It may be the very vote needed to make a difference where you live.

This weekend our Siyanqoba rallies will be in Port Elizabeth, East London and Graaff-Reinet. They will be addressed by the ANC National 
Chairperson (Terror Lekota) Minister of Labour and NEC member (M. Mdladlana); and the Deputy Minister of Finance and NEC member(M. 
Mphahlwa) respectively. There will also be other local and regional rallies to close the campaigns.

We invite all people to attend and listen for themselves so that they can decide how to cast their vote. But above all, we invite all 
patriots to join us in the new Local Authorities as we intensify our efforts to bring A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL!!!

AM. STOFILE
 PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON
 ANC-EATERN CAPE

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Home | About the Eastern Cape | Documents
 Economy | Structures | International Relations | Site Map
 Premier's Office | Speeches & Media Releases | Links
 Top of Page

---------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Eastern Cape

Premier's Office

Structures

Documents

Speeches & Media Releases

International Relations

Economy

Links


