ANC 'to walk 2009 vote in KZN'
2008-05-31 20:06
Durban - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele said the African National Congress (ANC) would "walk the elections in 2009" and aimed to obtain more than 60% of the provincial vote.
Ndebele, who was addressing the ANC's eThekwini Region conference, said that the ANC had held only three portfolios in the provincial government in 2004, but had since then taken control of Durban as well as the province.
In the 2004 provincial election the ANC secured 47% of the vote while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) obtained 37% and the Democratic Alliance eight percent. Up until 2004 the IFP had ruled the province.
Ndebele highlighted that the leaders of the ANC (Jacob Zuma), the South African Communist Party (Blade Nzimande) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (S'dumo Dlamini) were all from KwaZulu-Natal.
He said the province had capable leaders who could unite the province and the country. Referring to Zuma, he said: "He is elected by the people of South Africa because of his ability to unite our people."
Speaking about the recent xenophobic attacks Ndebele told delegates that "there is going to be more integration. That's where we are moving".
He pointed out that South Africa was party to an agreement signed by all SADC countries that would eventually "see freedom of movement like in the EU".
"What is this inferiority complex? It's nonsense," he said, adding that those caught indulging in xenophobic attacks would find themselves behind bars.
- SAPA