DEPUTY President Kgalema Motlanthe has called on the people of Mpumalanga to work towards changing the image of the province in order to reflect it more positively to the outside world.

DEPUTY President Kgalema Motlanthe has called on the people of Mpumalanga to work towards changing the image of the province in order to reflect it more positively to the outside world.

Motlanthe was speaking at the ANC's 98th anniversary celebration rally at Vukuzakhe Stadium near Volksrust in the Gert Sibande region on Saturday.

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza i ntroduced the deputy president to the crowd of more than 10000 ANC supporters.

"We have to work towards changing the way in which Mpumalanga is perceived," Motlanthe said.

"The province has been in the news about negative matters such as the leaking of examination papers and unsolved murders."

Motlanthe was accompanied by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba.

Buses ferrying supporters from the Mpumalanga Lowveld were still arriving at the rally long after Motlanthe had addressed the crowd.