Pretoria - Free wi-fi could be taken way away if Thoko Didiza becomes executive mayor of the capital - so warned a voice in a recording circulating among municipal workers and ANC comrades for the past two days.
The recording of one minute and 23 seconds was sent to ANC volunteers and workers attached to the municipal “Vat Alles” (informal cleaners) programme. It urged people to use the wi-fi to the “fullest” while they still could, as it would be taken away under Didiza.
The origin of the recording and identity of the man speaking in the so-called SePitori language remain a mystery. However, it appeared the recording - forwarded to the Pretoria News by at least five ANC and municipal workers on Wednesday - was intended to convince people to reject Didiza as mayoral candidate.
ANC insiders said it was a desperate attempt to convince the masses to lobby for the reinstatement of incumbent Kgosientso Ramokgopa, who was not nominated by the region for mayoral candidacy.
The region had favoured his ANC deputy Mapiti Matsena, with the national executive committee stepping in and appointing Didiza as a compromise candidate. The decision triggered a series of protests.
“I am telling you; they will not remove her. She will be the mayor of Tshwane. Sputla (Ramokgopa) brought in his people from Pheli (Atteridgeville); she is going to come with her own three people from KwaZulu-Natal,” the voice said. Didiza was born in KwaZulu-Natal.
Unprecedented violence erupted after the nomination of the 51-year-old ANC national executive committee member and National Assembly House chairwoman as mayoral candidate for the August 3 elections.
While the dispute regarding mayoral and councillor candidates was not new, it was the violence that accompanied the disagreement that had never been witnessed before.
Meanwhile, the ANC in Gauteng will hold a media briefing in Joburg today to introduce all mayoral candidates in the province.
Didiza, who has been welcomed by the ANC leaders in the region and alliance structures, will be making her first public appearance as Tshwane mayoral candidate.
The ANC on Wednesday cancelled a planned meeting to explain the decision to appoint Didiza to members until further notice.
Ramokgopa meanwhile called on residents and ANC structures to embrace the unifying decision of the party and desist from violence and misinformation in his name.
He said the foundation laid in the past five years would be executed by the collective of the new council and executive mayor.
“The service delivery success of the city is not his personal legacy, but collective effort, guidance and support from national and provincial government.” He reassured the city administration and stakeholders of a smooth transition.
Pretoria News