The African National Congress (ANC) has rebuked Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis for claiming that the party chose to host its 113th birthday celebrations at the Mandela Park Stadium because all other stadiums were already booked.
On Wednesday, 8 January, the ANC celebrated its 113th birthday, and President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address during the annual celebration on Saturday, 11 January.
ANC DISMISSES CAPE TOWN MAYOR’S CLAIMS ABOUT VENUE FOR JANUARY 8 CELEBRATION
On Thursday, ANC Western Cape chairperson Vuyiso Tyhalisisu told Newzroom Afrika that the party actually chose Mandela Park Stadium to reconnect with people following the historic electoral decline in 2024.
Tyhalisisu said they chose to start in Khayelitsha because it is one of the biggest townships in the Western Cape.
“Part of what we’re doing in this build up is to listen to our communities and we are left with homework as the leadership of the province and the region to make a follow up on those issues that our people have raised to them,” he said.
In contrast, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the former ruling party booked Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha for its 113th anniversary celebration out of desperation as no other venues were available.
The party reportedly tried to book the Athlone and Cape Town stadiums however, they were already booked for other events.
Further, Hill-Lewis alleged that senior ANC members even begged him to intervene by cancelling the Stormers rugby game scheduled for Saturday, 11 January, at the Cape Town Stadium and replace it with the party’s January 8 celebrations taking place on the same day.
In response, ANC National executive committee (NEC) member Mzwandile Masina said as a former executive mayor [in the City of Ekurhuleni], he was shocked that a mayor is now responsible for booking of the halls and stadiums.
Masina said it is quite ridiculous on his part, and he is not sure really what cheap political point the Democratic Alliance (DA) mayor is trying to score.
“He is not responsible for the ANC decision-making in terms of where we go and why we go there,” Masina said.
MEMBERS FROM OTHER PROVINCES WILL NOT FORM PART OF THIS YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS
Over the years, the ANC has secured stadiums with larger capacity to accommodate its members from various provinces for its birthday celebration, however, this is not the case this year.
The party said its Western Cape members will be able to fill the stadium on their own.
Elaborating on the point, Masina told Newzroom Afrika that they are not going to be bussing any member of the ANC coming from other provinces, given the fact that we have had some unfortunate incidents of accidents in the past.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE ANC FAILED TO SECURE A GOOD VENUE FOR ITS ANNUAL JANUARY 8 CELEBRATIONS?
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