Mpumalanga MEC for the Department of Human Settlements, Andries Gamede, who also serves as the ANC’s provincial treasurer, said there was no other political party that would govern the country.
Gamede said the ANC was going to win the general election decisively.
He pleaded with local business people to donate to the party as “it is not a sin”.
Gamede was speaking at the Barberton Town Hall during the executive mayors’ business-breakfast discussion last Wednesday morning. Local well-established and emerging business people attended.
They engaged to find ways to improve the economy of the town and how they could benefit from business opportunities in the council. They were also afforded an opportunity to raise issues that were affecting their establishments.
“Look after this town for the sake of your children. It is under the rule of the ANC and will continue to be. Accept that the ruling party will continue to run it. Try to work together.
“Others still believe that the DA will come back to govern and run the town. The reality is that on May 7 the ANC is going to win decisively. That’s why I say let’s put aside politics and work together,” said Gamede.
He called on well-established businesses to cooperate with the emerging ones as he and the ANC-led government had the power to assist them.
“I’m tasked with a budget of R1,3 billion to build RDP houses in the province. A total of R7 million of this goes to the procurement of materials. If you can involve black economic empowerment in your businesses, I can direct procurement of materials into your hardware businesses.”
He called on established businesses not to be scared of investing in the town. “Some people say there is a boom of business in Mozambique and want to go and invest there. But I can warn you that it is an uncontrollable one. They give you a lease agreement and you can be chased at any time. Here, if you invest in a plot, you get a title deed as assurance. We have a good story to tell,” he said.
He also gave assurance to businesses not to be scared of Julius Malema and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). “Some are worried about the EFF, which is a group of disgruntled individuals who are going to cool off.
The ANC had to chase Malema because technically he was saying the party must chase whites out of South Africa. That will never happen. Don’t ever doubt the commitment made by the ANC that this country belongs to all who live in it,” said Gamede.
He also said the DA would never govern the country again. “The DA won’t survive because Hellen Zille believes that by recruiting black people one day God will fall from heaven and change the situation. Any business person who wants to build this country must please join the ANC,” said Gamede.
Among the concerns raised by some business people, were that the town was filthy and there were too many potholes in the streets. As results, their businesses were affected.
They were also concerned by the mushrooming of foreign businesses, especially in Emjindini, as they alleged that most of them were not taxed by government.
