Hundreds of ANC Youth League (ANCYL) supporters descended upon the King Zwelithini Stadium in eMlazi for its anniversary celebrations on Sunday.
The event saw the party’s leadership – including the ANC’s provincial chair and MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala, eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and ANCYL KZN regional secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo – attend and address supporters.
The celebrations marked 73 years of the body’s existence, and also included speakers from Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), Congress of South African Students (Cosas) and the ANC Women’s League.
#ICYMI #ANCYL members begin arriving at anniversary celebrations at the King Zwelithini Stadium in eMlazi today @TheMercurySA pic.twitter.com/LrQ5EIvegX
— Kamcilla Pillay (@Kamcilla) October 8, 2017
The crowd was entertained by local artists before the programme began.
Many, including MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus, used the platform to state their support for the party’s preferred presidential candidate.
He said: “We want unity, and principled unity, among all structures in the party and we believe that Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is the right person to help achieve that.”
@eThekwiniM Mayor Zandile Gumede arrives at the #ANCYL #ANCYL73 celebrations at eMlazi @TheMercurySA pic.twitter.com/8i1e6WmR2g
— Kamcilla Pillay (@Kamcilla) October 8, 2017
Sabelo said that Dlamini Zuma was “strolling alone” to the leadership of the party.
Other events were held across the country to mark the anniversary.
Deputy president of the party, Cyril Ramaphosa, was asked to speak at one of these in Gauteng.