Chaos at Mbeki campaign visit
2004-03-28 21:32
Duiwelskloof - General pandemonium and a near stampede replaced the ordinary peace and quiet in Ga-Kgapane near Duiwelskloof on Saturday when President Thabo Mbeki visited the little town as part of his election campaign in Limpopo.
The fact that the president was more than two hours late did not seem to bother anyone, despite the searing heat.
Scores of people appeared as if from nowhere, all with one goal - to meet the president.
Nearly 96% of voters in the Bolobedu district voted for the ANC in the 1999 election and it was clear that this would be the case again this year.
Mbeki, true to his custom, paid house visits to the people of Ga-Kgapane.
Minah Motau received the president in her modest home.
Afterwards she said she was so overcome that she barely managed to say a word.
She had wanted to speak to the president about the poor state of the roads and problems with Masakhane projects, but never managed to do so.
She did thank him for his visit though.
Near stampede
Chaos erupted among supporters however, when Mbeki moved back into the street and decided to enter the school premises. The shouting crowd tried to touch the president and nearly caused a stampede in the process.
The situation was made worse by the failure of police and ANC officials to control the crowd.
Despite the pandemonium, the president did not break his stride or waver in his smile for a moment. But communication with the voters was impossible.
Later on the same day, Mbeki asked thousands of supporters at a nearby sports stadium to again support the ANC because opposition parties did nothing before 1994 to improve the fortunes of the masses.
He also indicated that outgoing Limpopo premier, Ngoako Ramatlhodi, had a bright future ahead of him on national level. This statement fuelled speculation that Ramatlhodi might succeed Penuell Maduna as minister of justice.
Mbeki closed his Limpopo campaign with a visit to Sekukuniland and a mass meeting near Makopane (Potgietersrus).