‘Send me,’ says Eldos ANC
Unity the key to creating a stronger Ward 18 branch to move the 'Thuma Mina' forward and solidify the party's status in Eldorado Park.
The African National Congress (ANC) has a rich history in Eldorado Park and despite the area being a Democratic Alliance stronghold, Ward 18 branch members are keeping the movement’s fires burning brightly by forging an even stronger united front.
The local ANC branch held a branch executive committee meeting at Eldomaine Secondary School in Extension Five to plot the way forward.
Eldorado Park residents are by and large DA supporters and the area has been led by this party since the first democratic elections which were held on April 27, 1994.
Allistair Fredericks, who is the branch chairperson, has been active within the community which has been ravaged by rampant drug abuse, crime and a high unemployment rate and serves as deputy chairperson of the Local Drug Action Committee.
While many believe the ANC’s numbers in Eldos to be on the wane, Fredericks said he remains steadfast in his belief that we should all heed president Cyril Ramaphosa’s ‘Thuma mina’ call and serve the community by lending our time and talents to deal a blow to the social ills being visited on this community.
ANC member of parliament, Beverly Abrahams, was also in attendance and was applauded by executive member, Tiny Volker for her contribution to ensuring that the new Sassa card rollouts went without a hitch.
Discussions between the members were disciplined, albeit robust, on certain issues which brought to mind former president Nelson Mandela who said, “An organisation can only carry out its mandate if there is discipline, and where there is no discipline there can be no real progress.”
The assembly remain intent on keeping the party intact in Eldorado Park, and branch deputy chairperson, George Dickson said, “We need to unite all aspects of the existence of the branch.”
Zain Kaldine, who serves as the branch secretary, added, “We need to start taking the ANC in Eldorado Park forward.”
In view of the centenary Nelson Mandela celebrations on July 17 and the looming 2019 general elections, the branch have their work cut out for themselves and their goal of having everyone saying, ‘Thuma mina’ by then, may well decide which way the votes will swing.
