Khayelitsha supports Phosa

ANC presidential hopeful, Matthews Phosa, during his visit to Khayelitsha over the weekend.

Wet weather could not dampen the spirits of Khayelitsha residents and ANC supporters who attended a memorial lecture of the late former ANC president Oliver Tambo on Sunday June 11.

A handful of residents, mostly women and young people, gathered at Kwamfundo High School in Harare to listen to former ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa who delivered the keynote address.

The poorly attended event was also aimed at asking Mr Phosa to avail himself to stand as the next ANC president to succeed president Jacob Zuma when the organisation holds its national elective conference in December.

Seven branches have endorsed the nomination for Mr Phosa and vowed to support him.

Addressing residents, Mr Phosa said as the country celebrates Youth Day tomorrow, Friday June 16, the day should be used to honour the important lessons learnt from Mr Tambo.

He emphasised that young people are the lifeblood of the nation, and the most precious resource. He pointed out that young people should be equipped with basic skills so that they could create employment and opportunities.

Mr Phosa made it clear that the country needs to respond to the needs of the youth and make good education accessible, particularly to the poor.

d greedy and corrupt leaders have forgotten about the needs of the poor and have hijack the ANC to fulfil their own self interests.

Mr Phosa said the needs of the people need to be prioritised and he called for the restoration of Mr Tambo’s values and morals. He said the current leadership of the organisation has failed dismally to follow in the footsteps of former leaders who selflessly dedicated their time to serving the country and championing the needs of the poor.

He said he was shocked when he was informed that Khayelitsha was among the areas rated in the top four with the highest murder cases. He said there was still a huge backlog of service delivery and people were still living in dire conditions. Mr Phosa stated that the reason that the ANC leaders have ignored the calls to recall Mr Zuma is because they know that they have benefited from the Gupta family “batyile bonke”.

He said all of those who have been found corrupt and benefited from the Gupta family should be prosecuted and locked up in jail. He said the country needs serious healing after the Zuma presidency.

Mr Phosa said the country is now reduced to a junk status and faces an economic crisis. He said investors are now reluctant to invest in the country and internal investors are also not investing in the county due to this maladministration of the current government.

He said the harsh reality was that the majority of South Africans have lost faith in government. “ The youth of today needs to be encouraged to study and should embrace education. But we need to rescue the country from the Guptas and Zuma.They say that if Zuma is removed people of KwaZulu Natal will vote for another party and maybe there will be a formation of another party. Why are these people perpetuating tribalism,” he said.

Ward councilor and Sesokhona People’s Movement leader, Andile Lili, said the rule of “Zumania” and the Guptas should come to an end. He warned people not to vote for Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, saying if people are voting for her they will be continuing with the legacy of the Zuma family. He said people should never consider Ms Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa as an option – that Mr Phosa is the only option .

He said they were glad that Mr Phosa agreed to stand as a candidate.