LIMPOPO – “WE want to see change in South Africa for the future of our children and grandchildren, and see this become a better place to live in. We don’t want our country to become another Zimbabwe. Thirty years ago, we cast our first vote for the first democratic election and at the time, Zimbabwe was a flourishing country regarded as the food basket for some South African Development Community (SADC) countries, but today, it is unable to produce even maize meal. What happened?”

With this question, Action SA president Herman Mashaba on April 23 addressed hundreds of supporters at the Vuledzani Bulala community hall in Thohoyandou, expressing his fears that South Africa might follow suit in terms of its immediate neighbours in the north, “if people don’t start thinking for themselves and vote for a difference to be made”.

Action SA embarked on presidential tour in the province, and on the day, Mashaba was accompanied by the party’s provincial chairperson, Victor Mothomela. “We want South Africa to be a better place to live in where we are free from crime, gender-based violence. Killers must be sent to jail.”

A traditional leader, Vhamusanda Khwara Nengwekhulu, who recently joined Action SA from the ANC, said he has found “a new home” and hopes to represent traditional leadership in the party and speak out about the challenges traditional leaders are facing.

Representing Limpopo Security Forums with cleaners and general workers, Mandiwana Mphaphuli told Mashaba that their plea to the party was to bring permanent jobs to the area, so citizens could benefit from pension funds, medical aid schemes and better salaries.

“Our employers are getting rich because of us, while we are paid peanuts. We want Action SA to fix that. We will vote for Action SA in this election with the hope that you will understand our situation and solve our problems,” said local resident Mandiwana Mphaphuli.