Just over three weeks before the elections and former president Thabo Mbeki is asking voters in Soshanguve, North of Pretoria, to give the ANC another chance. This is a complete change in opinion to a year ago when Mbeki was skeptical about encouraging South Africans to vote for the party, having said it had failed to attend to its issues. Thabo Mbeki has been going door to door, pleading with residents for votes.
Soshanguve is one of the areas that are known for a number of challenges including violent crime, poverty, unemployment and lack of redress. He arrived yesterday at block F where he campaigned and met with some of the struggle stalwarts and those who played their part in liberating South Africa.
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One must critique however, the manner in which the former president arrived at Soshanguve, in a brigade of BMW’s and this vice is one that is carried by most African leaders, the seemingly glaring detachment and lack of empathy for the very people from whom they require votes.
With the ANC having lost its grip on power in Tshwane and a number of other metros in the past, the political ground is fertile for a drastic change on the 29th of May.
