The African National Congress (ANC) has rebuked Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis for claiming that the social gathering selected to host its 113th birthday celebrations on the Mandela Park Stadium as a result of all different stadiums had been already booked.

On Wednesday, 8 January, the ANC celebrated its 113th birthday, and President Cyril Ramaphosa will ship the keynote tackle through 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 informed Newzroom Afrika that the social gathering really selected Mandela Park Stadium to reconnect with folks following the historic electoral decline in 2024.

Tyhalisisu mentioned they selected to begin in Khayelitsha as a result of it is among the greatest townships within 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 mentioned.

In distinction, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis mentioned the former ruling party booked Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha for its 113th anniversary celebration out of desperation as no different venues had been out there.

The social gathering reportedly tried to guide the Athlone and Cape Town stadiums nevertheless, they had been already booked for different occasions.

Further, Hill-Lewis alleged that senior ANC members even begged him to intervene by cancelling the Stormers rugby recreation scheduled for Saturday, 11 January, on the Cape Town Stadium and exchange it with the social gathering’s January 8 celebrations going down on the identical day.

In response, ANC National government committee (NEC) member Mzwandile Masina mentioned as a former government mayor [in the City of Ekurhuleni], he was shocked {that a} mayor is now liable for reserving of the halls and stadiums.

Masina mentioned it’s fairly ridiculous on his half, and he isn’t certain actually what low-cost political level the Democratic Alliance (DA) mayor is making an attempt to attain.

“He is not responsible for the ANC decision-making in terms of where we go and why we go there,” Masina mentioned.

MEMBERS FROM OTHER PROVINCES WILL NOT FORM PART OF THIS YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS

Over the years, the ANC has secured stadiums with bigger capability to accommodate its members from numerous provinces for its birthday celebration, nevertheless, this isn’t the case this 12 months.

The social gathering mentioned its Western Cape members will have the ability to fill the stadium on their very own.

Elaborating on the purpose, Masina informed Newzroom Afrika that they don’t seem to be going to be bussing any member of the ANC coming from different provinces, given the truth that now we have had some unlucky incidents of accidents up to now.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE ANC FAILED TO SECURE A GOOD VENUE FOR ITS ANNUAL JANUARY 8 CELEBRATIONS?

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