ANC turns 104 years old

The ANC was formed on January 8 in 1912.

Party secretary general Gwede Mantashe will be in Brits to meet with all ANC branches in the Madibeng sub-region. He will later move to Damonsville for a sub-regional mini rally, which concludes his week-long activities to drum up support for the ANC birthday celebrations in Phokeng on Saturday.

Deputy secretary general, Jessie Duarte, will be in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, where she will visit the family of struggle veteran Ruth Mompati in Vryburg.

Mompati, who worked as a typist for Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo in their law practice in Johannesburg between 1953 to 1961, was involved in the Defiance Campaign in 1952, and was a founding member of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) in 1954. She was later one of the leaders of the Women’s March on the 9th August 1956.

Duarte will also do blitz and walkabout at the Vryburg taxi rank.

National chairperson Baleka Mbete will be in the Zeerust area, where she will visit the family of late Kgosi Keobusitse Moiloa in Dinokana.

Kgosi Moiloa was killed on New Year’s Day, in an apparent hit-and-run accident in Dinokana. A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with the accident and was expected to appear in court on Monday for bail application.

President Jacob Zuma will cut the birthday cake with traditional leaders in Rustenburg.

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) promised to bring a “mother of all” motorcade to celebrate the birthday of the ANC.

Secretary general Njabulo Nzuza said the league expected President Jacob Zuma on his capacity as ANC president to touch on issues affecting youth such as access to jobs and free education for the poor when he delivers the ANC national executive committee January 8 Statement.

At least 123 000 people were expected to attend the birthday celebrations at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng near Rustenburg on Saturday.

Only 55 000 would be allowed in the stadium, 45 000 people would occupy the seats and 10 000 would be accommodated on the pitch. The rest would be accommodated at two overflow areas with giant screens to beam live proceedings from the stadium.

Duarte on Tuesday warned party members and supporters to bring hats or umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching heat.

She promised that water tanks would be positioned at strategic points at the stadium. She further warned that divisive songs or T-Shirts would not be allowed.

North West police said some roads near the stadium would be closed for traffic from Friday until Saturday evening.