Security scare at ANC rally

2004-04-04 17:55

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki issued a stern warning to under-performing elected representatives and civil servants on Sunday, reminding them that they were in office to serve the people of South Africa.

Mbeki said the African National Congress did not want "a president and councillors who do not understand that the reason they were elected is to serve the people of South Africa."

He said no pensioner should be unable to receive his or her grant because of poor performance from civil servants.

"We must reduce the levels of poverty among our people.

"We must improve the lives of the people for the better," Mbeki said. His message resonated among the 80 000-strong crowd in the FNB stadium near Soweto. Many watched proceedings on a big screen as the stadium was packed to capacity.

"The stadium is too small to contain the supporters of the ANC in Gauteng," Mbeki said.

Security officers dealt swiftly with a man who rushed onto the stage immediately after Mbeki ended his address. The man was hustled off the field by a posse of security guards, his blue T-shirt nearly torn off.

Programme chair and Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa soon had the situation under control again, with Mbeki and deputy president Jacob Zuma dancing to loud music.

Gauteng MEC for safety and security Nomvula Mokonyane said there had been no problems, and people moved freely around the packed stadium.

Each time Mafikozolo's song "Emlanjeni" was played the crowd shouted loudly.

Plastic ANC caps came in handy to shield them from the burning sun.

Traditional healers ran and danced around the field for the photographers before being herded to one side of the stadium.

Mbeki, Zuma and Mandela wore matching black ANC golf shirts, and security around the three was very tight.

When Mbeki walked around the stadium after his speech, some photographers had their cameras broken in the tussle for space.

From the approval of the crowd, one could believe the ANC had 80 000 definite votes on April 14

However, one rally attender, Jabulani Mconcoza said he was still "doing research".

"I go to lots of these things," said the 26-year-old student at Vaal University of Technology.

Mandela defends Mbeki

When Mandela spoke he defended Mbeki from people who he said wanted to cast aspersions on his integrity by saying that Mbeki would want a third term.

"We publicly express our surprise at such rumours, confirming our faith in the integrity of a man we know better than any of those critics or rumour mongers," he said.

"Yet they persist with their efforts. Now that the president has answered in the most unequivocal terms, we have not heard any one of them apologising to the president, or to ourselves for that matter."

It was the second time Mandela has supported Mbeki on the third term question, which Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon has consistently wanted Mbeki to answer.

Mandela said South Africans would go to the polling stations for the third time on April 14 to celebrate the past decade of freedom.

"We can now with some assurance and confidence claim that out democracy is firmly established.

"A democracy does not only consist of the five-yearly acts of going to the polls, but participating in those elections remains the most emphatic manner in which the citizenry can express its will," he said.

Campaigning not over

Mbeki said the rally did not mean campaigning had ended, urging party members to continue visiting the people to ensure they vote on election day.

"After this rally we must continue to talk to the people, tell them on April 14 they must vote for the ANC."

Mbeki said other political parties were contesting the election to become the official opposition, not to become the government.

"When you say you want to be opposition, it means you are already defeated," he said.

- SAPA