By Godfrey Simons
BLOEMFONTEIN – South African National Civic Organisation Secretary Bakoena Ramosie has demanded that the ruling party recognises theirrole in mobilising the community for positive cause.
He said the upcoming African National Congress elective conference inMangaung should address the concerns of the people who are oftenprotesting against poor service delivery. “They must be mobilised through changing patterns of community discontent, changing employed strategies and tactics that compound SANCO gradual marginalization. There is also a need to ensure that wecounter the reactionary parties representing the African beneficiariesand at the same time to represent the masses of our people,” Ramosie said.
He said the Mangaung Conference will have to introspect whether theANC government has served the community well. SANCO was a strategicANC partner and civic organisations were interested in what will transpire in Mangaung.
“SANCO encourages delegates to bear in mind that the ANC has timelyproduced tried and tested leaders who never gambled with the wishes ofour masses. Those are the leaders that the conference must electinstead of electing seasonal leaders who will run away from the massesduring hard times. We need leaders who will permit the channel ofpublic engagement which will provide an order where wishes of the poorwill be articulated,” he said.
Ramosie believed that the economic benefits should be distributed tothe people of South Africa equally not to a few minorities.
He emphasised that their organisation as a social movement evoked thespirit of activism which will enhance the lives of the people in the country.
SANCO could not sit on the side lines when important decisions were made. Ramosie said civic organisations wanted to influence the election of quality leaders.