Johannesburg - More than 1 000 taxis, 800 buses and thousands of train tickets, paid for by the ANC, will bring supporters to Cape Town Stadium on Saturday to hear President Jacob Zuma deliver the party’s birthday bash statement to set the political tone for the year.
The ANC on Wednesday confirmed that logistics are in place, including ensuring that all those wanting to attend the party’s 103rd anniversary celebration would have a ticket to enter the stadium in compliance with conditions set by the City of Cape Town.
“There are no challenges. We are here. Everything is in place, is on schedule,” said ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe on the sidelines of Wednesday’s national executive committee meeting to finalise the January 8 statement.
“The DA tried its best to take us to apartheid-era influx control… To control entrance to an ANC rally, that’s mischief. The ANC is known for filling stadiums, so we can’t expect less.”
Following a tussle over the date for traditional annual Cape minstrels’ parade, Mantashe on Wednesday welcomed the decision to march only next week Saturday. And the minstrels are expected to join the birthday bash at the stadium.
With around 100 000 posters strung up across the Western Cape, the ANC was also preparing for the arrival of thousands of people from other provinces.
The stage inside Cape Town Stadium was expected to be finished by late on Wednesday.
Arrangements for setting up big screen televisions and overflow venues for the anticipated 62 000-strong crowd were being finalised on Wednesday.
This came as the ANC’s top six officials continued to hit the road across the Western Cape to mobilise supporters.
But the ANC has remained coy about the budget for the build-up to, and the actual celebrations.
“Only the treasurer-general can tell you,” said ANC spokesman Keith Khoza.
Political Bureau