ANC hits out at 'small' parties
2011-05-07 22:42
Kimberley - ANC leaders flew into the Northern Cape on Saturday, danced and sang with a Kimberley crowd, while critising other "small" parties in an election blitz in the province.
President Jacob Zuma, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, Northern Cape premier Hazel Jenkins and other ANC alliance leaders were harried into a yellow coloured Galeshewe stadium in Kimberley to an expecting crowd.
"People are fed propaganda," Zuma said, referring to a citizen's complaint about service delivery on television.
He said the message since former President Nelson Mandela's time was that "it would take time" to bring about change in South Africa for all its citizens.
"The work for democracy is going on, vote or no vote."
Zuma told the gathering that citizens saying on television that they would not vote in the coming local government elections due to no service delivery was expressing the "wrong logic".
He said people should vote for the only party with a history "for them" who produced great leaders in the past, and who gave their lives in the fight for freedom.
They are criminals
Before Zuma's address, ANC Youth League President Julius Malema had the crowd roaring in cheers and giggles with his criticism of opposition parties and Youth League slogans.
Malema said citizens could not complain about the lack of service delivery while watering the lawn in front of a RDP house.
"When protesting they burn tyres on a tar road but they complain no delivery."
Malema continued in his usual manner in advocating the nationalisation of mines in a province which has huge mining interests.
"We (ANC) had done everything in fighting poverty but we do not have money."
He said the ANC would fight wealth until mines were owned by the country's people and "we're not asking for permission".
Malema said the country's land "being turned game farms" should be taken away without payment.
"We all agree they stole the land. They are criminal's, they should be treated like that."
He criticised opposition parties and referred to the "Madam" as the "person moving around doing a monkey dance looking for votes".
The IFP was referred to as the "culture" group, while the "People of the Congress" was a party formed in anger.
"Never form a party when you are angry, when you smile that party is over," Malema told a cheering crowd.
The party supporters, which swelled gradually, were entertained from a huge stage which was erected in the stadium.
Do it for Mandela
Many people arrived in party colours and waited patiently for party officials to arrive.
The stadium walls were covered with ANC posters and placards with ANC President Jacob Zama's face.
Before Malema was asked by a dance and singing girls group for a dance, he told the gathering if they do not have any reason to vote they should "do it for Mandela".
Zuma also ended his time on stage with a few songs to the delight of the crowd ending his Kimberley visit with his trademark song "Awuleth' Umshini Wami" (bring me my machine gun).
- SAPA
