President Cyril Ramaphosa went on a charm offensive in KwaZulu-Natal this week — a province where the president is said to be less popular.
A recent research survey by the Social Research Foundation revealed that in KwaZulu-Natal Ramaphosa’s predecessor Jacob Zuma was more popular than he is.
Ramaphosa was favoured by 31.6% of the electorate if voter turnout was 66%, while Zuma enjoyed a 63% favourability rating.
This could explains why the ANC sent Ramaphosa to the province this week to kick off an early campaign ahead of the elections next year.
In a multipronged presidential visit this week, Ramaphosa opened the R300m Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal at the Port of Durban and a state-of-the-art hospital in KwaMashu.
But he also had to address the crippling traffic congestion on the N2 caused by trucks queuing up to reach the Port of Richards Bay, as well as severe congestion at the Port of Durban that is preventing 63 ships from entering the harbour.
“It is important for the ANC that the president does not leave anything to chance when it comes to KZN and Gauteng. He [and] all of us are worried about the ANC's performance in those two provinces.
It is important for the ANC that the president does not leave anything to chance when it comes to KZN and Gauteng. He [and] all of us are worried about the ANC's performance in those two provinces."
— ANC NEC member from KZN
“In the two past elections, the ANC dropped to 54% in KZN — it was a huge drop by 10 percentage points that cannot be simply dismissed, so whenever there is a crisis, he must be visible,” an NEC member from KZN said.
Yesterday morning, Ramaphosa participated in an ANC-organised #RaisingABoyChild Peace Walk on the Durban promenade.
He later moved to uMzimkhulu, where he took part in a walkabout.
The president’s presence in KZN this week provided him with a platform to announce an anticipated increase in tourists for Durban, as more cruise liners visit this city.
During the opening of Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital, the president said not only would the facility relieve pressure on neighbouring hospitals, but it would also generate much-needed jobs, as it was the first to insource staff — including security guards, cleaners and kitchen workers — under permanent contracts.
However, the president was confronted here with placards saying: “No Job, No Vote”.
At the ports, Ramaphosa said positive changes were afoot, and he promised to keep monitoring progress closely.
His visit to KZN coincided with the national elective conference of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), where he was joined by a large contingent of senior ANC leaders.
Ramaphosa said the ANC had been working hard to ensure the civic organisation elected structures to be effective ahead of the elections. He told the Sanco conference he was confident the ANC would emerge victorious in the upcoming general election. The party had a “good story” to tell about improving the lives of South Africans over the past 29 years, as “shown” by last year's census.
Ramaphosa wanted the tripartite alliance to work together to stress the party's successes in every corner of the country.
“I want to see boots on the ground — we must all work for victory. Even in those households that may not be favourable to us, we must go in and explain to them what the ANC stands for, what it has done, what it is doing, and what it is going to do,” he said.
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