By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Newly elected ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has dismissed the allegations that the party will be using government resources for their January 8th statement.
The ANC is due to deliver its January 8 statement in the Free State in just a few weeks’ time.
In the memo that has been leaked, departments such as transport, public works, cooperative governance as well as economics and small business, are tasked with bringing ANC supporters to the birthday rally, while the procurement of the cake, champagne and 55 doves has been left to the department of social development.
Mbalula said that no state coffers should be used to fund ANC activities.
“Where there is any evidence of any government official purporting to divert public resources under the pretext that these are for ANC activities, decisive action will be taken against such officials.
As the ANC fast approaches its 111th birthday celebration, it seems attempts by the party in the Free State to put on a lavish event are reliant on state resources.
The party’s Treasurer-General Gwen Ramokgopa says they will investigate where the allegations came from.
“There will be a full press conference on Tuesday on the details of our preparations but the ANC is certainly not using government resources for its January 8th celebrations. There are a number of fundraising activities and there are also a number of members that are contributing to the cost, and there are also a number of businesses that understand that the ANC is one of the parties that are managing democracy.”
ANC rotates its birthday celebration across the provinces, with most being tasked with setting out how the anniversary will play out. Mbalula said that this time, the treasurer-general’s office was involved.
The 8 January rally, at the Petrus Molemela Stadium, will be preceded on 5 January by the virtual conclusion of the national elective conference, which the ANC failed to conclude on schedule at Nasrec, Johannesburg, in December.