ANC bigwigs visit bus crash survivors

POLOKWANE – ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa’s courtesy visit to hospitalised ANC members who were injured in a bus crash en route to the party’s 112th celebrations the weekend, has been described as a public relations stunt based on the party’s need for political acknowledgement in the area ahead of this year’s national and provincial elections.

This is the view of political analyst Prof Ricky Mukhonza, who said the gesture by the president and his entourage on Tuesday was an opportunity for the ANC executive to appear “caring” in an effort to channel voter apathy in this particular region.

“Furthermore, there was a deliberate channeling of the accident to Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s department, to suit the narrative of parading her as a front-runner in the campaign for the position of premier in Limpopo. If the preferred candidate was Florence Radzilani, for example, the ANC may have possibly channelled the tragedy activities to suit her department,” he added.

Provincial and regional executives who joined the president included the premier, Chupu Mathabatha, provincial ANC secretary Reuben Madhadzhe, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC Basikopo Makamu, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Capricorn District Mayor Mamedupi Teffo and Polokwane Mayor John Mpe.

The entourage paid a visit to party members and supporters in Mankweng and Botlokwa Hospitals, who sustained serious injuries along the R71 on Saturday, when one of three buses transporting ANC supporters to Mbombela veered down an embankment in Magoebaskloof. Six people died in the incident.

According to Mukhonza, there might have been careful consideration of the fact that the accident “happened when members were somewhat ‘on duty’ en route to a national rally. Therefore, Ramaphosa may have felt compelled to visit the injured and families of the deceased, although it would not necessarily change anything after he leaves”.

On the Mankweng Hospital itinerary, Ramaphosa visited patients in the intensive care unit ward and inspected, as described on the list of places to visit, a high-end Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan.

A hospital-based expert and Ramathuba explained the benefits of the machine for public healthcare with specific focus on its use to aid the provision of high quality healthcare at no cost. Ramathuba and her colleague estimated a cost of R10 000 per consultation in private practice for this benefit.

In reaction, Ramaphosa said the machine was an example of government’s strides in terms of National Health Insurance (NHI).

“This is what we want for our people. Quality healthcare at no cost right in the middle of a rural township. This is what the National Health Insurance is about, especially in a rural township near the university I attended”.

Ramaphosa equalling the MRI scanner to government’s efforts to introduce the NHI while in his cape as an ANC member during election season, also blurs the line between him as the country’s first citizen and him as party campaigner, according to Mukhonza.

Dr Metjie Makgoba, another political analyst, remarked that the ruling party, however, has a responsibility to attend to major events such as these.

“Who the responsibility lies on is based on the scale of the matter. The accident is somewhat at a large scale, especially because the people were going to attend an ANC national rally. Therefore, it may not be politicking as such but a tragedy that happens to work in their favour during this election season.

“Ramaphosa could have easily delegated anyone from the national office but came in the flesh because of his need for political legitimacy.”

In Mankweng, opposition parties such as the EFF have in recent months made inroads among voters, largely because of the influence from the University of Limpopo where the SRC is led by the EFF.

“Perhaps that is why Mankweng Hospital was the ultimate healthcare facility to place some patients, in order for Ramaphosa to campaign,” Makgoba remarked.

“It also works in the favour of ANC’s regional chairperson, John Mpe who has strong support from community members as a son of the soil,” he concluded.