When the IFP, during the election campaign, used its old tricks to block the ANC from entering areas they claimed as their strongholds, the strategic plan of the ANC and its alliance partners was far ahead.
In fact nobody could stand in the way of the 4×4 – KZN Ministers, Sbu Ndebele, Zweli Mkhize, Mike Mabuyakhulu and Dumisane Makhaye.
After all a 4 x 4 is a well-built car with which to travel on both smooth and gravel roads. This time it visited the Amakhosi areas which were not easy roads in the past. Meetings were held with amakhosi. The amakhosi asked for things they wanted done in their areas. For instance, inkosi yamaHlubi wanted a bridge to be built at Bhekulu area at Estcourt.
The former MEC for transport invited his deputy director general to hold a special meeting with amakhosi. The purpose of that meeting was to develop a programme of action to deliver the goods to their respective areas.
However, this has been a lesson to us as an alliance. Now that we have been able to lay the foundation, we must use this as a springboard for next year’s 2005 local government elections. We must identify the rural areas where we did not win decisively. We must consolidate the urban areas where we did well and march forward to improve our collective efforts. At the same time, the ANC must invite all MECs, MPs and MPLs to reinforce our door-to-door campaign leading up to the local government elections.
Likewise, as the Home Affairs Ministry is now led by an ANC MEC, that situation must be exploited to our benefit to address the current backlog. This will help speed up the identity document and voter registration campaign.
A people’s contract to create work and fight poverty will be a dream come true!