South African President Cyril Ramaphosa began his party’s door-to-door reelection campaign on a personal note Thursday, making his first stop at the home of ANC veteran Jantjies Moroosele in Soweto.
Mr. Moroosele, joined the African National Congress in 1952 and was imprisoned on Robben Island for seven years during the apartheid struggle. He warmly welcomed the president and the two held an extended conversation about the history of the liberation movement.
During the hour-long interaction, Moroosele shared memories of his years in the anti-apartheid resistance and his time as a political prisoner.
He expressed pride in the ANC’s accomplishments since taking power in 1994 but voiced concerns about corruption and lack of service delivery in many communities.
President Ramaphosa said hearing directly from stalwarts like Moroosele “grounds me in the noble mission that still lies ahead.”
The president is expected to criss-cross the country in the coming weeks, seeking to rally support for the ANC ahead of national elections on May 29th.
The party has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid but has lost support amid charges of graft and a sluggish economy.
