Dumisani Dube

The ANC will next week pay homage to its founding president, John Langalibalele Dube, setting off the year-long celebrations to mark the party’s centenary.

The ANC in KZN on Wednesday announced that on Wednesday next week its leaders would lay a wreath on Dube’s tombstone at Inanda, north of Durban.

“The ANC has taken a decision to start at Dube’s grave before going to Bloemfontein, given his immense contributions in the formation of the ANC in 1912,” said Makhosi Khoza, the ANC’s provincial spokeswoman, in a statement.

After that ceremony the province is expected to unveil its detailed centenary celebration plan.

The main centenary celebrations would be held in Mangaung next weekend. The celebrations will cost the ANC about R100 million, it has been estimated.

The ANC is hoping to attract about 100 000 supporters to the Mangaung bash, where Jacob Zuma would deliver the traditional January 8th statement.

The Mangaung celebrations would be attended by leaders from other political formations and liberation movements from other parts of the continent.

The provinces would also subsequently host their own celebrations.

KZN would host a centenary rally at Gamalakhe on the South Coast on January 15.