By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) is gearing up to celebrate its 113th anniversary on January 8, but this year’s event is expected to be one of the smallest in over three decades.
The party has chosen the Khayelitsha Stadium in Cape Town in the Western Cape as the venue, which has a capacity of only 2 000 people.
In comparison, last year’s event was held at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, which has a capacity of 43 000 people, and the previous year’s event was held at the Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, which has a capacity of 22 000 people.
The January 8 statement is an annual address reflecting on the party’s achievements and outlining its plans for the year.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is visiting different parts of the Western Cape and engages with communities sidelined by the provincial government.
The ANC has been occupying the official opposition party benches since losing power to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in 2009 in the province.
The party’s secretary general Fikile Mbalula addressed a congregation in Luzuko, Philippi, Western Cape.
Mbalula said the visit to Shekainah Healing Ministries underscored the ANC’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with faith-based organisations as part of its broader renewal campaign.
This initiative aimed to restore trust, unity and integrity within the party and across the nation.
Mbalula stressed the importance of unity and integrity in leadership as essential components for driving meaningful change and improving the lives of all South Africans.
“The ANC’s mission has always been to deliver a better life for all. By working together with faith communities and mobilising our people, we can achieve that vision,” he said.
Mbalula said the January celebrations would continue to highlight the themes of a shared commitment to social justice and nation building as the party looked toward a future of renewal and growth.
Meanwhile Paul Mashatile says the party is working hard to improve service delivery and deliver houses in poor areas such as Khayelitsha.
Mashatile started his programme on Sunday with a visit to a church in the area and interacted with community members.
He was accompanied by NEC members Thandi Mahambehlala, Nonceba Mhlawuli, and the ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu.
He said the ANC is also working on long-term solutions to deal with the regular shack fires in the Western Cape.
“Recently we have seen in the Western Cape problems of shacks that are burning because people build their shacks with materials that are flammable. In fact, the Deputy Minister spent a lot of the festive period going around these communities trying to work with them to address those kinds of problems. So we are going to continue to work with them, to address the problems that they have raised with us before.”
Mashatile also mentioned that national leaders will address youth unemployment in poor communities.
The ANC’s 113th anniversary celebration will mark the first time the party has held its birthday rally in the Western Cape since 2015.