Cope says SA is in trouble – urges Kinross residents to vote

KINROSS – The president of Congress of the People (Cope) made a stop at Kinross where he spoke to a small group of residents on Saturday, 16 February.

This follows the stunning statement made by Mr Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota in parliament recently, alleging that South Africa’s president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa was a ‘snitch’ during apartheid.

He said: “When it was difficult, you (Mr Ramaphosa) wrote to the special branch that we put communist ideas in your head. In doing so, you condemned us to the special branch. I say this to you because the special branch rewarded you, as they always reward their victims, and they sent you home. And we headed to Robben Island.”

Residents of Kinross have been fed up with the lack of service delivery they receive from the municipality, previously calling themselves “the orphaned child”.

They brought forward the concerns and shortcomings of the ANC run municipality, hoping they would find answers from Mr Lekota who was promoting what Cope has to offer.

The general secretary of the party, Mr Diratsagae Alfred Kganare, shared what Cope would focus on should there be a shift in political power in the area.

He pleaded with those present to vote and to get everyone they know to vote.

“The reason we have come is because there are people who feel they must withdraw from the elections. The country is in trouble. South Africa belongs to everyone who lives in it.

“All South Africans have the same rights, and therefore we all have the same responsibility to take care of it,” said Mr Kganare.

Mr Lekota later in the meeting gave the residents a history lesson on how the country came about and how wars were fought for resources.

“When something belongs to you, you cannot expect someone else to fight for it,” said Mr Kganare when he touched on how important it is for each South African to vote in the upcoming elections.

He continued, saying: “The ANC is in trouble. They cannot give people food parcels for the coming elections. We (Cope) don’t need to win right now, we just need the ANC to not have the majority vote.”

“We are opposed to BEE (Black Economic Empowerment).

“If you want BEE, start with education. The same quality of education for all, equal education.”

In Parliament recently, Mr Lekota received support from the EFF after his damning statement against the president.

The agenda is to create more support for the opposition parties and eventually allowing another party a chance to deal with the mess that the ANC has made.

“When Mr Ramaphosa says that the land must be given to our people, what does he mean? If you think thoroughly, what does he mean when he says that the land must be given back to ‘our’ people. Who are his people?

“What type of president talks like that? Because all his people are supposed to be every South African. If we have to deal with the issue of land reform, our constitution is very clear, section 25, about how to deal with land reform.

“I always tell people that the mistake we make is that we talk about the issue of land and section 25 as if section 25 is talking about land. Section 25 is talking about property rights. If you say that anyone’s property can be taken without compensation.

“You might think that today it is against whites. But let me tell you, when the people lose power, they will use the same amendment to take land from those who disagreed with them,” said Kganare.

“Expropriation of land is all land, and houses are on land.

“If you take land from people and you do not pay them, that land automatically loses value,” he added, expressing what the repercussions of land reform will be.

“It is fine that Gwede Mantashe thinks that milk comes from Checkers and Shoprite, but us who think properly, know that milk comes from a cow.”

Mr Kganare further said: “People have become so obsessed with opposing others that they forget to build up what they have,” when he spoke on the recent fight of removing the Afrikaans language from schools. He added that instead of removing the language, they should rather build up other African languages as according to the stats given by Cope, a large portion of black South Africans speak Afrikaans, including Mr Lekota. “So how can this language be excluded?” concluded Mr Kganare.

“We mean business. We will go everywhere to talk to people. I do not need to talk to many people, to thousands, to get this message across,” said Mr Kganare, joking that people can invite him to their homes to have koeksisters and tea.

“Do not be an observer when your country is being destroyed,” said Mr Kganare.