Winnie still in mourning

A screengrab taken from the SABC live feed shows Winnie Madikizela-Mandela during the funeral service of Nelson Mandela in Qunu. File photo: AFP/ SABC

A screengrab taken from the SABC live feed shows Winnie Madikizela-Mandela during the funeral service of Nelson Mandela in Qunu. File photo: AFP/ SABC

Published May 3, 2014

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Johannesburg - ANC veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela will not be speaking to the crowd at a Bekkersdal rally because she is still in mourning, the ruling party said on Saturday.

African National Congress Gauteng secretary David Makhura said Madikizela-Mandela was still in mourning following the death of former president Nelson Mandela who died in December.

Madikizela-Mandela arrived at the ANC's rally in Bekkersdal dressed in black.

Makhura told residents that political parties should be able to campaign for the election wherever they want because South Africa is a democratic country.

He said there should be no no-go areas.

He stressed that ANC leaders were not arrogant as they came from the masses.

“They come from among the people. They 1/8ANC leaders 3/8are ordinary men and women.”

In March, the Democratic Alliance and the Bekkersdal Concerned Residents Association laid criminal charges against the ANC.

At the time Thabang Wesi, leader of the Bekkersdal Concerned Residents Association, said residents saw ANC “bodyguards” with weapons in the township shooting at unarmed people, mainly school pupils.

This was after an ANC delegation visiting the area were pelted with stones during a door-to-door campaign ahead of the May 7

general election.

Residents have reportedly warned the ruling party saying it would not be allowed to campaign in Bekkersdal unless Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane apologised in person for her dirty votes remarks. - Sapa

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