Johannesburg - ANC presidential candidate Dr Zweli Mkhize has sent a message of thank you to the ANC structures for nominating him as he pushes forward, hopefully to victory, come the end of the 55th ANC National Conference in December.
"Thank you for putting your trust in me by nominating me!! You have the power to usher in a new era of prosperity. Together, we can end load shedding. Together, we can rebuild our economy and create much-needed jobs. Together, we can save our state-owned enterprises. We can revitalise the township and rural economies. We can end crime and create a safer society. Remember that the power is in your hands!" said Mkhize on a Facebook post.
Today, Mkhize will be in Ekurhuleni to deliver the Bertha Gxowa memorial lecture, with other notable speakers being ANC deputy secretary general candidate Nomvula Mokonyane and treasurer general hopeful Mzwandile Masina.
Mkhize said that he was humbled by the invitation and said that it was important to acknowledge the role of women as a pillar of the ANC.
"Ensuring equal access to economic opportunities - developing townships and rural economies should be accelerated as a way of paying tribute to comrade Betha Gxowa and many others," he said
Mkhize stated that protecting all vulnerable groups —children, women, the disabled, and the LBTQI+ — must remain a priority for the ANC and society.
"Critically, the ANC belongs to the people of South Africa. The ANC belongs to the Gogo, who has problems accessing the pension. The ANC belongs to the unemployed youth in the townships, rural areas, and informal settlements. The ANC must remain the party for all, and its policies should be used as a vehicle for the transformation of society, not for the benefit of a select few," added Mkhize.
Mkhize is a front-runner in the ANC presidential election, in which he will run against the current ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
This was announced by the ANC Electoral Committee chair and former president Kgalema Motlanthe, as battle lines have been drawn in what has been termed the "fight for the soul of the ANC" in a highly factionalised internal political environment.
"For President Cyril Ramaphosa, the total tally of nominations is 2037, and for Dr Zwelini Mkhize, the total tally is 916. As I said, these are the two names nominated for the position of president," said Motlanthe.
The Star