South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says the ruling African National Congress can no longer expect the people to vote for it simply because it liberated them from apartheid.
He says to win next year’s election the ANC has to address the needs of the broadest range of South African especially the youth.
Fraught with debilitating factional fighting and power battles playing out in its own structures, South Africa’s ruling ANC faces an uphill battle in next year’s election.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who took over the leadership of the party at the end of last year, has kicked off the process of drafting the ANC’s election manifesto.
He likens it to drawing up the Freedom Charter which was adopted 63 years ago.
Ramaphosa told a manifesto workshop the party wants to hear as many views as possible to draft a revolutionary document that includes input from academics and experts.
He urged participants to challenge conventional thinking and interrogate existing programs.
According to him, the manifesto has to be one message told with many voices.
He urged those responsible not to hold back, to be as direct as possible, and to call a spade a spade.
Ramaphosa added that the centre must hold at all costs as the election message is propagated.
Former president Jacob Zuma arrived at the worship while Ramaphosa was speaking to delegates.