Durban - Forget blessers, if you give to the ANC, you are blessed. That was the message from the ruling party as it encouraged business people to open their hearts - and wallets - at a fundraiser and networking dinner at the uMhlanga Coastlands Hotel on Tuesday night.
eThekwini mayor-elect Zandile Gumede, who attended with some of the ANC’s top five national leaders, said she would partner with business people to create opportunities in the Durban Metro.
And they responded, digging deep, not only to buy several paintings and ceramics for sale, but also pledging various amounts of up to R1 million to bolster the ANC.
The occasion formed part of the eThekwini ANC’s efforts to raise funds for its local government election campaign.
Present at the event were ANC national chairwoman, Baleka Mbete, treasurer-general, Zweli Mkhize, KwaZulu-Natal chairman, Sihle Zikalala, and businesspeople such as Roy Moodley, Vivian Reddy, as well as city manager, S’bu Sithole.
The regional ANC leadership, through its deputy regional chairman, William Mapena, was clear from the outset as to what was expected from the captains of industry.
“It’s a night of supplying your business card. It’s a night to pledge to the ANC,” Mapena said. For the ANC to grow, he said, it needed support from business.
“We are at your mercy. We as the region request you to give as you do... You are blessed if you give to the ANC,” Mapena added.
Regional treasurer, Barbara Fontein, said the money raised at the networking session would make the ANC’s journey to victory easier.
“The money will be used for election campaign. You can be sure the money is in safe hands under the leadership of ma’am Zandile Gumede,” Fontein said.
Zikalala said the contributions made in kind by business were towards a “revolution”.
“These are not just for the ANC but for the ANC to continue to spearhead its objectives,” he said.
Delivering her address, Gumede said she would work not with individual businesses, but collectively to develop partnerships which would create opportunities to fast-track economic development and investment in Durban.
Mkhize said Luthuli House had full confidence in both the ANC the eThekwini region and KwaZulu-Natal as a whole.
“The ANC has a mayor who is ready,” he said in reference to Gumede.
He praised her for her planned focus on the economy, which he said was most important, and added that eThekwini was the largest centre for economic growth in KZN.
“I’m pleased with the offer of partnership with business. This is how we see change and growth in the province and eThekwini,” Mkhize said.
“It is important for the leadership of both eThekwini and KZN to maintain a close working relationship with business to grow the economy,” he added.
Mkhize said despite the challenges faced by the ANC, there was no better party.
“If you are in the ANC you are in the right place. We would like you to give support,” he said, adding that the generosity of the donors would ensure the ANC marched to victory.
Zikalala said they expected eThekwini to contribute half of the gross domestic product of the province as opposed to its present 33%.
Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle and Richards Bay were the other main contributors mentioned.
“We still have a lot to do. This is the only metro we have. We expect 50% of economic contribution to come from eThekwini,” he said.
Zikalala also spoke about the need to spearhead radical economic transformation.
“We are moving with speed to make KwaZulu-Natal attractive to investments.”
Daily News