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COMRADE vs COMRADE: President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe have emerged at the head of rival ANC factions to contest the party's elections in Mangaung next month. Party delegates across the land are finalising their nominations lists for the leadership positions in the governing party. PHOTO: JAMES OATWAY

It does not matter who wins in Mangaung, things will remain the same, people interviewed in and around Johannesburg say.

In Soweto, most residents believed the African National Congress’ national conference in Mangaung next week would not change the problems they faced every day.  

“It does not matter. Even if it is [Deputy President Kgalema] Motlanthe who is elected [as president of the ANC], we will still face the same problems we are facing today,” said Bon Mabasa.  

“The people who will be electing will not be thinking about us,” he said.

Mabasa predicted that President Jacob Zuma would retain his position as the president of the ANC.

“The people around him are trying to make us believe that he [Zuma] is the right president for us. They are doing this because they know they want to gain something from him,” he said.

Martin Nyembo, 28, a car guard at Maponya Mall, said the country was failing because of Zuma.  

“I need another president in the ANC. If you are the president you are supposed to think about people, and Zuma is not doing that,” he said.  

“There are just too many problems in the country, and we need to change everything.” 

Shopper Kenneth Ditibane, 50, said it would be good for the country to have a new president.

“Let them elect Motlanthe. He is educated and is better than Zuma.” 

Emmanuel Inanga, 28, a student at the Vaal University of Technology, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said the ANC-led government needed to change.  

“I am no fan of Zuma. When Zuma came, everything went wrong.

“Things were better with [former president Thabo] Mbeki,” he said.   “If I was South African, I would vote for the DA [Democratic Alliance].” 

Bongane Ngcobo, a 32-year-old unemployed man, said: “It doesn’t make a difference to my life who is elected as ANC president”.  

In Sandton, people were hesitant to talk about the conference. However, a woman who initially declined to comment when asked her opinion on the state of the country later turned around and said: “It’s bad. The country is bad. That is all you need to know”.

Thingahangawi Makhado, a 21-year-old business management student, said: “Honestly, I don’t care much [about Mangaung], but I think President Jacob Zuma is going to win because a lot of people support him”.

He was not excited about the ANC elective conference and was "only interested in the outcome”.

Daleen Viljoen, a 39-year-old administration clerk at a public school, said she was not into politics, but had views about the future of the ANC.  

“If we look at what has happened over the last year, with all the unrest, things are not so positive,” she said.  

“It’s time for a new growth path for South Africa. Change would be good.”  

On the West Rand, Mandla Mngomezulu, who works as a merchandiser at Westgate Mall, said he had faith in Zuma. 

“The right president is the same one ruling the country now.

“Motlanthe is too soft.

“There is no other man who can take this position... let’s give Zuma another five years.

"Cyril [Ramaphosa] can be a deputy president,” he said.  

The conference is scheduled to begin in Mangaung on Sunday.  

The party will choose its leaders, and will decide on policies on its internal structure, its future as a political party, as well as on crucial matters such as the country’s economy, nationalisation of mines, and land reform.

- Sapa

Comments

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Fri May 24 22:51:25 SAST 2013 ::

Dec 12, 2012

child4real

Well stated and said, Unfortunately its true, we will gain nothing from this coming meeting as the state. We should or shouldn't care it'll all remain the same. Power hunger and bad ideas will still persist.

Its time for substitution.
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Dec 12, 2012

oldlady12

Well, if they feel not even a leader change in the ANC will make a difference in their lives, then they know what to do. Vote in a totally different party in 2014.
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Dec 12, 2012

IamAJ

For Months I have been singing that song in this blog, this is not new, Mangaung is only a means to an "end" mark my words. Education will liberate our people, not ANc, Not Da nor Cope
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Dec 12, 2012

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe

@oldlady12

Well, if they feel not even a leader change in the ANC will make a difference in their lives, then they know what to do. Vote in a totally different party in 2014.
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Oldie RSA is not run by ANC our parliament consists of many people from all parties dont you think parliament not ANC if they stop attacking each when they've to bring better ways of dealing with thing could benefit this country then they can oppose each other on local level .
If poeple elect the new party that gonna to be opposed even in parliament is that party gonna better this country,by then they'll have to deal with oppositions from the delegates because the same people will be stalking them.


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Dec 12, 2012

RobinX

The party is now a complete bloody mess. Beyond repair.
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Dec 12, 2012

oldlady12

Katakata, " Oldie, RSA is not run by ANC".. Mmmmm you may be right, but then again, running something into the ground counts as running too.
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Dec 12, 2012

Voetzek

but eintlik were is malema, did he went for antinental
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Dec 12, 2012

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe

@oldlady12

Katakata, " Oldie, RSA is not run by ANC".. Mmmmm you may be right, but then again, running something into the ground counts as running too.
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Kakkakakkakakkakakkaka.Oldie may be I dont get the duties of the parliament when I say people attacking each other in the parliament.
I'll have to make a research on it. lol u kill me Oldie.

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Dec 12, 2012

oldlady12

Voetzek, that's who we're missing. Malema. Now they're showering us with ANC and Zuma. Let's start a "where is Malema?" campaign.
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Dec 12, 2012

Mgaraji

IamAJ
For Months I have been singing that song in this blog, this is not new, Mangaung is only a means to an "end" mark my words. Education will liberate our people, not ANc, Not Da nor Cope
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Education, participation & active citizenry is the solution. Without political party how are you going to achieve it? You see the danger of being educated but not participating & not being an active citizen.
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