DURBAN - INKATHA Freedom Party president Velenkosini Hlabisa has called on party supporters and community members to go out in their numbers and vote in order to save KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa from corruption under ANC rule.
He was speaking at the IFP’s closing campaign rally in Ulundi on Thursday where he said all South African voters had a duty to save the country’s municipalities.
“Today we meet here with our leaders, candidates, volunteers and people of South Africa through the media to make one of our last clarion calls that on 1 November all South African voters must save our municipalities by going out to their voting stations and casting their votes,” said the IFP president.
He added that the party’s leadership had gone all out using different platforms including social media, to meet people, and listening in a bid to hear about their needs.
“We patiently listened to you telling us your frustrations, painful stories of losing jobs, watching your children going to bed with empty stomachs, losing properties, as you could not afford to pay the bonds for your houses, could not afford the instalments for furniture, houses and cars. The people of South Africa have told us how they have lost hope in the government of South Africa,” Hlabisa continued.
He accused the ANC of failing the country’s citizens in all aspects of life. “The ruling party has failed to create jobs. The ruling party has failed to keep the lights on. Under the ruling party, all systems of governance have collapsed. Wherever the ANC is in power - be it at national, provincial and local government level - corruption is the order of the day”, Hlabisa stressed.
He told the gathering in Ulundi it was a shame that after 27 years of freedom in the country there were people still living in shacks, with no electricity and no water and basic infrastructure, but stressed that the challenges could be fixed with an “appropriate vote” on November 1.
“Here in Ulundi, the IFP-led municipality has prioritised infrastructure development and roads, and repaired the roads that were damaged. Families in need received homes and building materials, as well as food parcels. In addition, 16 community halls and 17 early childhood development facilities have been provided to the community. The top-10 learners received bursaries, and hundreds of young people have been employed each year.”
He stressed that a vote for the IFP is a vote for a party that creates opportunities where it governs.
“Now is the time to set yourself free. On November 1 come in all your numbers. Every voter who has been complaining or protesting about poor services, take your protests to the ballot box. Flood the voting stations and through the ballot paper, vote against corruption, vote against poor service delivery. We are an alternative,” Hlabisa appealed. He closed his address by saying the IFP was for people, progress and purpose.
THE MERCURY