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The 2 000-seater Nelson Mandela Park Stadium, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, where the ANC will hold its January 8 statement rally on Saturday, 11 January. Photo by Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi.
ANC booked a small stadium because it was “too incompetent”.
The party’s surprising choice to use a smaller venue to host its 113th-anniversary celebration has come under scrutiny.
It’s emerged this was not “a conscious decision” of the party as ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula proclaimed at a media briefing on Sunday, 5 January.
According to Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, it was due to a lack of planning.
He called the ANC out on social media and said it must stop “lying” and claim it booked the 2 000-seater Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha for its January 8 statement rally on Saturday, 11 January “out of concern for residents”.
“For the record, the ANC didn’t book the Khayelitsha Stadium. They’re lying. They booked it because they were too incompetent to book any other venue on time,” Hill-Lewis said.
He claimed the ANC tried to book Cape Town Stadium mid-November in 2024, and it was already booked for a Stormers’ game.
“Then, they tried Athlone Stadium. It was also booked for the Klopse Carnival. Several ANC office bearers called me asking for help late November and early December. They said we were trying to sabotage them by refusing to use the stadium. In November! Lol! The last conversation I had was on 5 December, and by then they still hadn’t made a booking. So please don’t believe their nonsense,” said the mayor.
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Mbalula said the organisation chose to deliver its statement in Khayelitsha, not only to reconnect with the people but demonstrate its commitment to addressing everyday challenges they encounter.
“We know we’re an organisation that has challenges with regard to money and resources. We’re not a wealthy party, so the question of money is ever-present.
“We’ll assist our people in and around here with transport. We’ll work with taxi operators to help people get to the venue, and others will walk in. That’s part and parcel of the rebuilding of the ANC, and that’s important to us. This is the constituency that voted for the ANC religiously without questioning. In the last election, they didn’t come out in numbers, and we’re here to rekindle our connection,” he said.
The City of Cape Town has clarified that the 2 000-seater stadium can safely accommodate the more than 22 000 ANC supporters expected for the party’s birthday celebration on Saturday, 11 January.
Although the stadium officially seats 2 000, its 40 000-square-metre field area will be used for the event.
Awaiting comment from the ANC. This is a developing story.
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