WATCH LIVE: ANC People’s Manifesto launches in Northern Cape

The party is expected to address issues of education, poverty and illegal immigrants at the Galashewe Stadium in the Northern Cape.

Crowds descend on the Galeshewe Stadium in the Northern Cape. Image: Twitter/@ANC_NCape1

Scores of ANC supporters have turned up at the Galashewe Stadium in the Northern Cape to hear President Cyril Ramaphosa launch the party’s People’s Manifesto.

https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/1091620668662312961

ALSO READ: ANC will take ‘tough measures’ against illegal immigrants

Part of the ANC’s manifesto involves now providing free tertiary education “to all academically deserving students coming from poor and working class households, insisting that “access to education must not be determined by the size of one’s pocket, but rather by their capacity and potential.”

NORTHERN CAPE #PEOPLESMANIFESTO LAUNCH

We are now providing free tertiary education to all academically deserving students coming from poor and working class households…#GrowSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/0Qgy7jlZN3

— African National Congress (@MYANC) February 1, 2019

Earlier on Saturday, President Ramaphosa attended the region’s Meerkat Marathon in Kimberley.

And GO !

LETS GROW SOUTH AFFICA TOGETHER

ANC President, Comrade @CyrilRamaphosa at the start of the Meerkat Marathon this morning in Kimberley, Northern Cape. #GrowSouthAfrica #PeoplesManifesto pic.twitter.com/HKSWF2uik3

— African National Congress (@MYANC) February 2, 2019

The party’s manifesto will focus on education being “a key driver of fair and sustainable development,” and President Ramaphosa is expected to elaborate on how more poverty-stricken households will have access to quality education.

Another issue the party is expected to address during their election campaign is illegal immigrants, with an excerpt of the party’s manifesto reading that it will “take tough measures against undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activities in the country or in cross-border crimes, including those involved in illegal trading and selling adulterated food in townships and villages”.

At a speech at Moses Mabhida Stadium early in January, President Ramaphosa spoke about the need for “effective border management” to ensure the safety of South Africa and its people.

Last year, ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe (who has since voluntarily stepped aside from the position pending the outcome of investigations into sexual harassment accusations levelled against him) released a statement in which the party reacted to what many believed was xenophobic vigilante violence in Soweto targeting Somali shopkeepers by calling the violence a “disturbing” reaction to vendors selling illicit goods that may endanger the health of consumers.

“The health and wellbeing of our people are of primary concern to the ANC. The fact that this is leading to instability and violence is a disturbing development,” the statement said.

Watch the Northern Cape manifesto launch live: