You want CT stadium, ANC? Pay up front

Feebearing - Cape Town - 140828 - The Cape Town Stadium in Green Point.PICTURE: WILLEM LAW.

Feebearing - Cape Town - 140828 - The Cape Town Stadium in Green Point.PICTURE: WILLEM LAW.

Published Dec 11, 2014

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Cape Town - The ANC will have to pay R2.2 million, up front, to hire Cape Town Stadium for its 103rd birthday bash next year.

The Western Cape ANC leadership started the countdown to its January 8th anniversary celebrations in Cape Town last month, with the leadership launching community drives throughout the province to build up excitement.

The party turns 103 next year and it is only the second time that the national birthday celebrations will be held in the Western Cape. It is so far keeping mum about the costs involved.

The party’s centenary birthday celebrations, held in 2012, were expensive, with the party confirming that they cost more than R100m. But the provincial ANC secretary Songezo Mjongile did not specify any amounts for next year’s bash, only saying it was a national event, being organised by the party nationally.

Asked about the hiring of the stadium for the ANC’s celebrations, City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for tourism, events and economic development, Garreth Bloor said the venue hiring fee was just over R2.2m.

“The city tariffs for various city services, are inclusive of traffic management, law enforcement, cleaning and security,” he said.

Plagued by a bad credit history - following its failure to settle a bill of R1.5m for hiring the Cape Town International Convention Centre for its provincial elective conference in 2011 - Luthuli House will have to abide by the city’s standard policy that clients must pay up front.

“With regard to hiring of the stadium, any potential client will need to pay the full hire fee before they start building up for their event,” Bloor said.

Mjongile said the anniversary event would accelerate the party’s work of activating its base areas and communities by raising the level of consciousness about the history of the ANC.

“It gives us an opportunity to talk about the current problems that our people are confronted with. It will also put a focus on next year, marking the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.”

Mjongile said their “activation” programmes included picnics, a heritage big walk, social gatherings and braais. Countdown celebrations had already been held in Gugulethu, Paarl and Hermanus with more events planned for every weekend leading up to January 8.

Mjongile said ANC representatives from all province were expected to descend on the city.

“Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Free State, Northern Cape have all indicated that they will be attending. They will come on the trains and buses. The entire national leadership, ministers, deputy ministers and diplomatic corps will attend. We are expecting about 3 000 VIPs.”

Mjongile said the current programme would see President Jacob Zuma delivering the January 8 statement, which would outline the ANC’s plans for 2015.

Cape Argus

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