MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa wrapped up the ANC’s week-long January 8th celebrations at Moruleng Stadium where crowds cheered, slogans were echoed, promises flew as thick as confetti… and then? Silence.
The dust settled, and guess what?
The taps are still dry. The roads are still dilapidated. The clinics are still understaffed. The schools are still crumbling. In short: nothing has changed.
During the party’s 114th celebrations, the ANC reflected on its journey and Ramaphosa praised the North West province. “We acknowledge our victories and our shortcomings. We recognise the pain and frustrations experienced by many of our people, particularly in relation to unemployment, inequality and weaknesses in local government delivery. These realities weigh heavily on our conscience as a movement that exists to serve. Yet, this anniversary is not a moment of despair, it is a moment of renewal and hope, a collective resolve and renewed determination to continue with our vision of a better life,” said Ramaphosa.
However, the ANC’s annual ritual where leaders preach “mobilisation” and “renewal” had no immediate solutions to the hundreds of people who turned up at the event. How many actually have clean water? How many have jobs? How many saw their kids graduate from schools with roofs? Zero.
The province’s four districts Bojanala, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Kenneth Kaunda remain trapped in a cycle of neglect, mismanagement and broken promises. Yet, it’s another January 8th, another photo-op with another hollow speech.
Let’s cut the crap. If the ANC really wanted to “mobilise the masses” ahead of local elections, they would have fixed the potholes before printing the posters. They would brought service delivery first before handing out ANC T-shirts.
So yes, the January 8th statement is done. But the crisis in North West is still very much alive. Until the ANC starts delivering real change, the only thing “mobilised” will be disappointment people - over and over.
