Port Elizabeth – The people of the Eastern Cape are concerned about issues that impact on their lives, such as service delivery and jobs, not the uproar over Nkandla, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday.
He said they were concerned about these issues – not about the recent Constitutional Court ruling against President Jacob Zuma for contravening the Constitution regarding the public protector’s order that he pay back some of the taxpayers’ money spent on non-security upgrades to his private homestead at Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Ramaphosa was speaking to media after a walkabout at the Greenacres shopping centre in Port Elizabeth. He said people were raising questions around what the African National Congress would do to improve their houses, water, and toilets.
“As far I’m concerned, that’s what people have been raising; honestly not a single one has raised the issue of the Constitutional Court and if they had I would tell you,” said Ramaphosa.
“In many ways our people have been filled with a lot of hope as they have been hearing our message when we are telling them that we are here to consolidate our position. We had weaknesses in our municipality here and that’s why we brought Danny Jordaan who has started doing really wonderful things correcting the mistakes of the past, getting rid of corruption and focusing more on delivery issues,” said Ramaphosa.
The people were saying to the ANC “get on and do the work”.
“I leave many of the communities here feeling confident; are we certain of victory in this metro? I am more than convinced that we are certain of victory. The people are solidly behind the ANC. I have not heard a single disgruntlement among the people,” he said.
People “were falling over themselves” asking to take photographs with the delegation. He said people wanted the ANC to retain control of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.
“Middle class people going to these very expensive shops have been giving us a really good signal that they are favourably disposed towards us; none of them have raised the issue of the Constitutional Court,” he said
Earlier, Abby Mcako, with her two young children, rushed to get a photo with Ramaphosa. She was “honoured” to have met Ramaphosa and would vote for the ANC despite all the issues pertaining to Nkandla, she said.
“We like the ANC. Whatever happened, we will still vote ANC. ANC is not just about one person, people make mistakes. My loyalty is towards the party no matter what,” said Mcako.
A large ANC contingent loitered outside the mall, with people rushing forward hoping to take a selfie with Ramaphosa. Even a DA candidate for ward one in Nelson Mandela Bay, Rashied Adams, was seen taking pictures of Ramaphosa as he left with his entourage.
African News Agency
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