ELECTIONS UPDATE FROM THE ANC WCAPE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS TEAM - NUMBER 3

This is the third "Elections Update" we have issued. Number 1 was issued on Monday 19/4/99 and number 2 on Friday 23rd April . Once again the contact numbers of the election media team are ;

021 696 8448 ( direct line )
021 696 7510 ( general line : ask for elections media)
021 696 8445 ( elections fax )
082-4765650 ( Gert Witbooi's cell phone)
082 894 7553 ( Cameron Dugmore's cell phone )
021 418 4616 code z 7131 ( Cameron Dugmore's pager)
021 238 333 code ANC 14 ( Gert Witbooi's pager )

Summary of past weeks events/issues

• The ANC's message to workers of " Can you vote for parties that voted against you ? " has had a major impact over the last week at factory forums and at the COSATU women's event. It seems clear that workers are aware that the DP and NP voted against legislation which has secured labour market reform. In the community there is also a strong realization that laws to provide free medical care, cheaper medicines and to protect farm workers have been opposed by these parties. This will also be the key theme in the 10 May Day events held in the Western Cape on Saturday 1 May 1999.
• The by-election results have served as a wake up call to the ANC, with provincial leader Ebrahim Rasool saying that there is no place for complacency. Having won the last 9 by- elections in a row against the NP, the ANC was disappointed to have lost the Blue Downs ward. It is clear that local politics are very unpredictable and have much to do with personalities, and the community dynamics. It should be noted that on the day ( 21/4/99), the ANC received more votes than any other party given that the NP did not even contest Zoar and that the UDM only got 29 votes in Malibu. This shows that the ANC has a strong presence in both metro and rural areas of the Western Cape.
• History was made in George when over 200 mainly poor people from the white community an ANC housing meeting on 22/4/99. A committee was formed to work with the ANC towards what will probably be one of the first fully integrated housing developments in the country. More white people attended the ANC meeting compared to that of DP leader Tony Leon held the previous week in George.
• The DP appears to have run into problems in its attempt to form a coalition with the NNP to keep the ANC out. Ebrahim Rasool , speaking on behalf of the ANC office bearers said today :

" The attempted ganging up by the DP and the NNP against the ANC in the Western Cape is the clearest admission by these parties that they have very little hope of victory in the Western Cape.

" Opinions polls show that the ANC is moving to victory. However such a coalition as proposed by the DP to keep the ANC out can only be described as dangerous. A coalition of this sort can have no other purpose but to defend white privilege. If they do succeed then it will be a major setback for the process of change and transformation. It will be the poor in the Coloured and African communities which will be the losers if such a coalition were to become a reality.

" We appeal to patriots in the white community to resist the temptation of entering this laager and to reject being part of ganging up against the ANC. We call on the Coloured and African people to invest in a better life by supporting the ANC's programme for transformation. Do not split the vote for change by voting for smaller parties. Vote for the ANC. Don't give your votes to parties who only use it to protect the privileges of the minority. Our time has come. The ANC is ready to govern the Western Cape for all, not just the few "

2. Events for the week ahead

Freedom Day - Tuesday 27th April

• Stop press - the NP W.Cape provincial government has not organised any activity for Freedom day as have other provincial governments. Mr Ebrahim Rasool said " This NP does not see the W.Cape as part of South Africa. By opposing transformation, fighting central government and boycotting public holidays , they are hurting the people of this province. The Nats must go. They have no place in a democratic South Africa "

1. Winnie Madikazela- Mandela and Ebrahim Rasool will speak at a prayer meeting organized by the ANC Women's League at 13h00 at the Gugulethu Civic Hall. It is hoped to have details of other parts of Cde Winnie's programme by 11h00 today. 2. Tony Yengeni will speak at a Freedom Day Rally in the Mbekweni Community hall at 13h00.

3. Jannie Momberg will represent the ANC at a Freedom Cup soccer Festival at the Parkwood sports field, Parkwood at 10h00. 4. Dullah Omar will speak at a Freedom Day rally at the Worcester Church square where the freedom of the town will be conferred on late ANC Worcester heroes, Hennie Ferris and Joe Mphoza, sons of Worcester, who died in the struggle against apartheid.

5. Pierre Gerber will speak at a Franshoek Freedom Day rally at 11h00.

6. Lerumo Kalako MPL and former MEC for sport will speak at a freedom day sport and recreation Festival organised by the Robertson Civic Association and the local sports committee at the van Zyl's street sports ground in Robertson . Event starts at 9h00 and ends at 17h00.

7. Ebrahim Rasool will speak at a Freedom rally at Nomzamo Community Hall, Nomzamo ( near Strand in the Helderberg

Wednesday 28th April

1. Randall van den Heever and Mario Masher will speak at a community meeting in Matjiesfontein at 15h00

2. Randall van den Heever and Mario Masher will speak at a community meeting in Laingsburg at 19h00 in the Community Hall

Thursday 29 April

1. Pierre Gerber, Bruce Kannemeyer and Riyadh Williams will speak at a people's forum at 19h30 at the Klapmuts Primary school

Friday 30th April

1. Minister Dullah Omar will speak at the launch of the ANC Youth League at Stellenbosch at 13h00 at the Sanlam Hall.

2. Ebrahim Rasool and the ANC NEC will speak at the ANC Provincial General Council ( PGC - all branches of the ANC plus alliance partners ) at the Good Hope College of Education at 18h00. This is a major event on the ANC calendar and will serve as the forum from which the final battle orders are given for the election campaign.

Saturday 1 May

Cosatu will convene 10 May Day rallies throughout the province at which ANC and alliance speakers will speak.

The main rally will take place at the Lentegeur Sports Complex, Mitchells Plain and will be addressed by ANC President Thabo Mbeki, Ebrahim Rasool, Nosipho Ntwanambi and Ebrahim Patel. Other rallies to be held are ;

• Villiersdorp High Noon ( Geraldine Fraser Moleketi and Randall Howard )
• Beaufort West, Rustdene Sports Complex ( Trevor Manuel and Joseph Thee)
• Atlantis, ( Patrick McKenzie)
• Worcester, City Hall ( Kader Asmal, Roger Ronnie, Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka)
• Paarl, New Orleans Park ( Pallo Jordan, Zola Skweyiya, Mildred Lesia, Connie Sptember)
• George, Rosemoor Stadium ( Sankie Mthembi Mahanyele , Desiree Tlholo)
• Saldanha/Vredenburg, Diazville Civic ( Tony Yengeni, Naledi Pandor)
• Grabouw ( Charles Nqakula, Jessie Duarte, Charles Petersen)

Most of these events will commence at 10h00 and include cultural items.. Exact details to be released on Friday.

Issued by ANC DIP Western Cape. Further details contact Elections Media Office at above numbers.

28 April 1998