ANC steps up election campaign
2008-10-02 08:29
Johannesburg - It works, but don't do it in the suburbs.
Even the African National Congress (ANC) election manual for 2009 says so: "loud hailing (to win votes) could be very effective, but it's not a good idea to use it in the suburbs."
The 68-page manual contains guidelines for ANC members, from Luthuli House to grassroots level, on recruiting voters for the next general election.
Beeld has obtained a copy of the manual.
ANC president Jacob Zuma writes in the foreword that the party should do everything in its power to ensure a significant victory.
Pop stars or clowns
The ANC could even involve church leaders, headmasters, cultural leaders and sport stars, the manual says.
A megaphone or loudspeaker mounted on a car is an effective way of informing people, the ANC says.
But, the organisation warns, some party members think they are pop stars or clowns once they have a megaphone in their hands. They only "waste money and irritate voters".
The manual also contains the following tips - members should not drive flashy cars when canvassing votes for the ANC; should not lean out of car windows, and should not make remarks about others, especially not about women.
Zuma writes that the ANC has never taken its support base for granted.
Four phases
The ANC has divided its campaign into four phases and plans to establish at least three levels of recruitment committees in an area.
The first phase started last month and will continue until January 8, 2009. The second phase will end three weeks before the elections.
During the last three weeks, the ANC will focus its campaign by increasing house visits and putting up posters on lamp posts.
The final phase takes place in the week before the election. Party members should ensure that every voter who intends voting for the ANC gets to a voting station, according to the manual.
The ANC says its members should discuss the following with voters: unemployment; health; welfare; housing and land; schools; crime and violence; alcohol and drug abuse; services; facilities and transport.
The manual also says it could be difficult to get people to attend meetings. The solution is to hand out pamphlets at churches, places of employment, schools, stokvels and funeral associations.
ANC recordings could also be played on the music systems in minibus taxis.
Finally, the manual says party members should unite the different factions, otherwise the morale of volunteers could suffer.