Pretoria - Songs of praise by ANC supporters were belted out to welcome their mayoral candidate for Tshwane, Thoko Didiza, to Bloed Street Mall in the city on Friday.
Didiza is no stranger to the busy spot, where she used to sell meat and pap at a fast food outlet called Thoko’s kitchen.
This time around Didiza was there to drum up support for the ANC in the run-up to the municipal polls on August 3.
She was adamant she would visit townships where communities burnt buses and torched shopping malls.
People vented their frustrations after the ANC announced her as its preferred candidate last Sunday.
Premier David Makhura and the other ANC top brass joined Didiza on her walkabout.
They handed out ANC pamphlets.
Makhura said the situation had normalised in Tshwane with the exception of Mabopane, where looting continued on Friday.
He said some ANC leaders were dispatched to quell the chaos.
Makhura added: “The ANC is united here in Tshwane and it can’t be defeated. The alliance is united and it will never be defeated.”
ANC Tshwane deputy chairman Mapiti Matsena and chairman Kgosientso Ramokgopa were part of the leadership that took part in a display of unity.
Violence that spilled out into the townships was linked to the two leaders, who were alleged to be fighting over the mayoral post.
Didiza sat down to eat pap and chicken near the taxi rank at one of the hawkers’ stalls.
Matsena, also Tshwane ANC election co-ordinator, said Didiza’s public appearance was in line with the ANC Friday election campaign to interact with people from various areas of the city.
Didiza interacted with taxi operators and hawkers and listened to their concerns.
Taxi drivers raised concerns about heavy traffic fines they received from the metro police.
In response Didiza told them about plans to host a taxi indaba to give them a platform to air their grievances.
She also heard from hawkers who expressed uncertainty about their small businesses in the streets. Hawkers were told not to worry about anything because their businesses would not be removed from the streets. Makhura said: “This is only the beginning. We started in the inner-city and we will be going everywhere in Tshwane.
“We are taking comrade Didiza everywhere. She is going to be talking to the people because she represents the ANC and not herself.”
The ANC leaders spent at least R950 on food from the hawkers.
Pretoria News