Worshippers get ANC promises
2011-05-08 22:49
Cala - ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe advised worshippers at the Eastern Cape town of Cala on Sunday to vote for his party in the local government elections if they want to receive water, electricity, free houses, tarred roads and street lights.
"I am asking you to pray for the ANC as we go towards the election on May 18," Mantashe said during a packed church service at the St Johns Apostolic Faith Mission church.
"We are promising to give you water, electricity, roads and street lights, but only if you pray for the ANC and that we win the elections."
Mantashe, who had been campaigning in the area during the weekend, is a member of the church and had been invited to address the worshipers.
Outside by a band of church trumpeters and drummers from Apostolic churches around South Africa prepared to play music for him.
Mantashe joked that he once had the choice between church and politics, but that he had been forced to chose politics.
He said the decision people would have to make on May 18 would be as"important".
"You must know who you are voting for," he said.
"But I am advising you to vote for the ANC. If you feel that you are not able to vote for the ANC you can go to other parties , but know that the ANC will always lead the country."
Ration of water
Outside the church locals from Cala stood in the mud in the rain,waiting for their names to be called so that they could collect their five litre ration of water for the day.
One woman Tembisa Ngcobela said what she would like more than anything was her own tap with running water.
"I have four sons and they are school," she said.
"I am happy with that. I am happy they have education and they have opportunities, but if I could have a tap it would be much easier," she said.
A woman standing beside Ngocobela, also waiting for water, said she had been diagnosed with tuberculosis and that she would like to have a better treatment from the clinic in the area.
"The government has brought us many things," she said. "But there are stills many things that we do not have. If they want me to continue vote for them, they must give us the things like the tarred roads and the taps."
- SAPA
