Business is booming for people trading around the Mbombela Stadium where the African National Congress (ANC) will be celebrating its 112th anniversary.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the January 8 statement.
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Many of the vendors have been selling ANC merchandise and food since the beginning of the week.
“Business is good. I have been here since the beginning of the week, at the Capital, provincial offices and I have already made some sales this morning,” says one of the traders.
The ANC says the over 40-000 seater Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga will be packed to the rafters with an arrangement for an overflow of people.
ANC Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane says they are working on being strict with time.
“Our target is to make sure that at 11 o’clock the president speaks. We have also created an overflow adjacent to the main stadium. There will also be a parade that will enter the stadium of different cultural groups, including a group that will be demonstrating our support and solidarity with the people of Palestine. As you know what is now happening in The Hague. After the formal program, comrade president will lead a delegation of officials to go and have a luncheon with members of the diplomatic chore and then on Sunday morning there will be an engagement with the media, led again by the president with members of the NEC,” says Mokonyane.
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Mokonyane says over 800 buses and 1000 minibus taxis will ferry people to the event.
“We have over 40 members of the diplomatic chore, who are also going to be at the gala dinner and are going to attend. We have leaders of liberation movements, who are already in the country, including the president of the International Solidarity with the people of Cuba. Because we are going to host the international conference on Sunday here in Mbombela. We have the prime minister of Western Sahara (who) has also arrived and comrade Obasanjo (Olusegun), the former president of Nigeria is also here, and comrade Deputy President DD Mabuza has also confirmed his attendance.”
Meanwhile the ANC has launched a crowd fund initiative where people can donate money to assist the party to advance its mission of renewal.
Ramaphosa made the announcement during the fund raising gala dinner in Mbombela, Mpumalanga last night.
