Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to walk the proverbial knife edge on Sunday, when he addresses an ANC pre-election rally in the politically volatile Limpopo town of Modimolle.
Ramaphosa was billed to address the rally in the company of Premier Stanley Mathabatha, who has been accused by local residents of not keeping his word because he had failed to report back on issues raised at a previous meeting.
By Saturday, a low-intensity political conflict had started, with opposition political parties warning Ramaphosa might find himself addressing an angry audience.
According to the DA, EFF and ANC turncoat, the independent Wiets Botes, there were likely to be demands - from within the very ranks of the ANC - that the premier report back as he had promised at the meeting held well over three months ago.
“At the time, the premier addressed a conflict-ridden township subsequent to violent service delivery protests, promising he would report back in a matter of four weeks.
“Three months down the line Mathabatha has not reported back as promised,” said independent candidate Botes, who recently broke ranks with the ANC.
He had been a member of the party for 15 years.
He abandoned the ruling party as a provisional councillor, after his constituency threatened to reject him, should he campaign in the colours of the ANC.
“Mark my words, Ramaphosa and Mathabatha are not going to address a happy audience because there are also issues about the candidates’ list in Modimolle,” he said.
He disclosed his contacts within the ANC had confided to him that the allegedly “unpopular” Meisie Lekalakala was to be retained as mayoral candidate, which was bound to anger members of the community.
DA ward candidate Dingane Mtshweni said the fact that the rally was an ANC event would not help reduce the tension because members of the ruling party themselves had serious issues with the organisation.
He said chief among these was the “report back” crisis and, most probably, the retention of Lekalakala as mayoral candidate.
Meisie Kennedy, the vocal EFF MPL, said never mind the anticipated pre-election rhetoric, members of the ANC were at one with the broader community over the “report back” issue, as well as candidates’ lists for the local government elections scheduled for August 3.Modimolle made news headlines earlier this year, following violent protests which culminated in the meeting with Mathabatha.
On Saturday, the ANC had a heavy presence in the township, with trucks, minibuses and bakkies decorated with the black, green and gold of the party arriving ahead of the rally.
The Sunday Independent