President Cyril Ramaphosa has gone on a charm offensive in the Eastern Cape, telling community members there is only one political party capable of taking the country forward and that is the ANC.
With less than two weeks to go until the general elections on May 8, Ramaphosa took the ruling party’s campaign blitz to the Eastern Cape on Friday. His first stop was Butterworth where he engaged with people who showed up at the Msobomvu sports ground.
"We all know who will win theelections," the president said to rousing applause and shouts of affirmation. "I already know who will win the elections because there is only one political party that is capable of taking the country forward."
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It is crunch time as political parties wrap up their respective campaigns before the May 8 elections. Forty-eight political parties are expected to contest the polls this year – 19 more than the number of parties that contested the 2014 general election.
"I came here because I was told the people of Butterworth love the ANC," Ramaphosa said. He continued, saying that he is confident that the ANC will win the province by a "handsome margin". According to the president he has encountered many people who say they will vote ANC during his campaign.
"People can see that the ANC is renewing itself. The ANC is uniting and becoming better and better."
Ramaphosa repeated these sentiments when he addressed supporters in Dimbaza, just outside King Williams Town. He further told supporters that through investment, jobs will be created.
Industrial parks across the province that are dormant have been earmarked to be used in creating job opportunities, Ramaphosa said. "I would like that some of the money [from foreign investment] be invested directly into the rehabilitation of the factories [in industrial parks] that employed most people in this area."
On Saturday, in his capacity as head of state, Ramaphosa will lead Freedom Day celebrations at the Miki Yili stadium in the Joza township of Makhanda.