The African National Congress (ANC) will hold its annual ‘January 8’ statement and anniversary in Cape Town, Western Cape on 10 January 2015. The main celebration will take place at the Cape Town stadium in Greenpoint.
This is part of the party’s rotational policy of having the event in different provinces each year. The 2014 event was held in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. At last year’s gathering, the party also launched its 2014 election manifesto.
The official programme is scheduled to start at 10h30 and to conclude around 13h00. ANC President Jacob Zuma is expected to speak just after 12-noon. Zuma is widely believed to include the party’s upcoming National General Council and the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter in his speech.
The leadership of the party, including members of its National Executive Committee (NEC), will be conducting a number of door-to-door visits in the province the before January 10 celebrations.
According to ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, the event was likely to attract approximately 62 000 people, the actual capacity of the venue. Although most supporters will be from the Western Cape, the party confirmed it had arranged more than 400 buses, more than 30 trains and 1000 taxis to ferry people in.
The main event will be preceded by a gala dinner on Friday night, 9 January, at the Cape Town ICC. According to media reports, the price tag of a seat at ANC President Jacob Zuma’s Titanium table will be R3-million; R2-million for a seat at ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Platinum table; R1-million for a seat at the Silver table where one can expect to be joined by a cabinet minister/ ANC dignitary; and R150 000 for the Bronze table seating.
The ANC’s Western Cape secretary, Songezo Mjongile, did however add that “ordinary supporters and guests” would be accommodated in a section where the price starts from R150.
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