In December last year, Sydney Mokoena* (38) “dropped everything” to attend a memorial service in Bloemfontein for “the father of free healthcare”, Nelson Mandela. The poster that advertised the service remains stuck to the large window at the entrance to Mokoena’s tiny house in Thaba ‘Nchu, about 100km from the Free State capital. The notice is beneath two green and yellow ANC stickers: one with the party’s logo; the other bearing a smiling Jacob Zuma and the words “I am voting ANC, 2014 elections.”
•Read: How a dying woman’s bed was taken by an ANC official
Mokoena says he has been a “lifelong” ANC member who has never voted for another party. But he is now considering resigning from an organisation he “no longer loves”.
Earlier this year, he briefly met provincial leader Ace Magashule when the premier visited Mokoena’s village.
“The ANC people gave us stickers and some people got T-shirts but I’m no longer happy with Ace,” says Mokoena. “He broke Mr Mandela’s promises”. Mokoena said he was concerned that the health MEC [Benny Malakoane] had been appointed for a second term despite facing corruption charges.
