By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) is celebrating 113 years of its existence this weekend, a momentous milestone for the party and its long-standing commitment to the liberation and development of South Africa.
This year’s observance comes with a strong focus on both reflection and renewal, as the ANC continues its journey of addressing the country’s challenges while committing to its vision for the future.
The January 8 Statement is a cornerstone of the ANC’s calendar, dating back to 1972 when it was first introduced to celebrate the founding of the party on January 8, 1912 in Bloemfontein.
This annual address has since evolved into a unifying moment, setting the tone for the ANC’s political agenda for the year ahead. It serves as both a reflection on the movement’s history and a call to action for the ongoing work of liberation and national development.
In the lead-up to the main rally, the ANC will be hosting a series of events, including: ANC Youth League’s Peter Mokaba Memorial Lecture.
Mokaba, who passed away in 2002, was the former president of the league and is remembered as one of its most influential leaders to date.
He was widely regarded by many within the ANC as one of the most influential leaders of the youth league, known for his fearless leadership.
At just 23 years old in 1982, he was detained on Robben Island for his involvement in the ANC’s underground activities during the party’s ban.
Mokaba also served as deputy minister of tourism in former President Nelson Mandela’s first Cabinet.
Collen Malatji opened the Peter Mokaba Memorial Lecture in Khayelitsha.
Malatji lamented how a nation with rich natural wealth was unable to provide a bright future for its young people.
He said South Africa had become a nation of consumers who had forgotten the value of manufacturing, which had led to rampant youth unemployment.
He was troubled by the number of students being left jobless despite graduating from university, saying the issue was akin to a sickness.
“There is a disaster happening in the country. The disaster is called unemployment of the youth, ” stressed Malatji.
“The disaster is worse than Covid-19, it’s worse than HIV, it’s worse than TB, it’s worse than any other disease. That disaster is called unemployment of the youth,” Malatji bellowed.
Malatji singled out the banking sector for monopolising the financial heart of the country, repeating the call to nationalise the South African Reserve Bank.
He stated the economy needed to be restructured to prioritise the youth, expressing his belief that the youth were being locked out of land ownership and wealth creation.
Malatji also took a swipe at ANC former president Jacob Zuma, saying he is a counter-revolutionary and the real enemy of the country.
“When you go home, you must tell your family that Zuma is worse than the DA. He is the one that put the ANC at 40% [in the 29 May elections], so that our people are de-positioned. Zuma is the enemy of our people.
“The youth must always remember Zuma as a counter-revolutionary and the man that sold his people for nothing.”
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who was president of the youth league from 2004 to 2008, delivered the keynote address on Friday afternoon.
Mbalula said the party’s comeback from its electoral loss, will begin in the Western Cape.
The ANC, which has not been in power in the Western Cape since 2009 after losing to the Democratic Alliance (DA), is hoping to make inroads in the province.
Mbalula said the ANC will make a comeback.
“We will come back stronger from 40% and It will start here in the Western Cape. Phansi nge DA phansi, phansi nge DA phansi. Phatha ANC phatha. Phatha.”
Mbalula said, “Unfortunately, under DA-led provincial governance, the Western Cape remains a province where inequality persists. In areas like Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain; black, coloured and Indian communities continue to face rampant crime, unemployment, inadequate housing, and poor access to basic services.”
Mbalula said the ANC aimed to “improve the lives of people who have been neglected in the Western Cape.”
The celebrations come in the year before the 2026 local government elections. The ANC’s support in the metro has dropped in municipal elections: in 2021, it received 18.6% of the votes in the city. In the 2016 municipal elections, the party received 24.36% of the votes.