Zuma gets roaring welcome at ANC rally in PE

President Jacob Zuma received a roaring welcome at the African National Congress’s August 3 municipal elections Siyanqoba rally at the Dan Qeqe Stadium in Zwide, Port Elizabeth, on Saturday.

In a build up to the elections, the ANC has been campaigning hard for support in the highly contested Nelson Mandela Bay metro.

Zuma told the crowd it was not possible for another party to defeat the ANC because the ANC had support from its "ancestors". "Who can defeat us when our ancestors are with us?" he asked.

Zuma encouraged supporters not to be "misled" by those who bad-mouthed the ANC. "Everyday they [the Democratic Alliance] paint a bad picture of this country; they are negative… let me remind you there was the [old National Party] which died and left a child called the DA.

"Do not be confused by other people, they know nothing about the struggle.The ANC has made a huge difference in the last 22 years," Zuma said.

He also urged voters not to give their vote to those who stood as independent candidates. "Independents join the ANC because of positions; if they don’t get a position they become independents, they [are] chancers, don’t give them your vote. We fought for this country. It was the ANC that got freedom for this country. Who can forget that and vote for other [parties]?"

Zuma praised incumbent mayor Danny Jordaan, saying there had been much progress under his leadership.

Jordaan earlier told the crowd that no other party had the ANC’s history and encouraged people to "walk the ANC path" when voting. "They have no heroes because they have no history. Local government is in the hands of the ANC and Nelson Mandela Bay belongs to us."

Jordaan said only the ANC could promise a better life for all.

– African News Agency (ANA)