Rae Baur welcomed into the ANC

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Former DA councillor Rae Baur was welcomed into the ANC at a meeting held recently at Monash South Africa. The master of ceremonies, Raymond Martin, described the occasion as “platforming a discussion about what the party currently does and what its plans are going forward, specifically in the West Rand area”.

Delivering her keynote speech with the words of the national anthem fresh in the audience’s minds, Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu described active citizenship as “the responsibility of you and I, irrespective of our political affiliations [sic]”. She shared the belief that the ANC would go from strength to strength.

“I don’t believe for one minute that this is the end [of the ANC]; change will reign. It is important for us to fight a non-racial struggle.”

Baur took the decision to join the ANC “as the DA took my platform away”. She told the record that the ANC approached her about joining them as they plan on recruiting prominent intellectuals to strengthen the party from within.

“They want intellectuals, educated people and businessmen to help them bring about change within the party [sic]. Give me a platform to serve my community and I will be honoured to take the position,” Baur said.

She said that since she had made the decision, “I have been nothing but welcomed”.

Comments she had made before the meeting suggested that the opposition party was sexist and silencing women in their ranks. Other newly appointed ANC members shared her sentiments. Allegations about the opposition party ‘bussing in’ crowds for marches and favouring publicity over community service also arose during the discussion.

“I was dumped as were a lot of other women,” one member told the record. “In the ANC, at least, gender equality plays a part.”