Thousands of Eastern Cape ANC members and supporters left the province for Cape Town yesterday afternoon, to be part of the party’s 103rd anniversary celebrations which will be held at the Cape Town stadium today.
ANC Buffalo City regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo said at least 30 fully loaded buses had left the region by 2pm yesterday.
The Dispatch spotted a group of more than 100 men and women clad in ANC T-shirts still hanging around the City Hall after 3pm. Nokuzola Sonti from Duncan Village said she had registered her name to be part of the group going to Cape Town yesterday, but “no buses had arrived to pick us up since 11am”.
“We do not know what to do. But we will wait because we want to go and be part of this annual celebration of the ANC,” she said.
But Mkolo said it was likely that some of those who wanted to go to the rally would be left behind. “Remember, we indicated as early as Wednesday that there were more people who want to go than the number we had budgeted for.
“The people you saw in front of the City Hall might get a lift, they might not. It depends whether there are any more available buses going to Cape Town,” said Mkolo late yesterday.
ANC bosses were banking on the Eastern Cape to pull the biggest crowd in the Cape Town stadium as it is the closest province to the Western Cape.
The Dispatch reported on Wednesday that there was likely to be an overflow in most of the key regions such as Sarah Baartman – a region which covers Koukama and Bitou – both of which lie on the borders of the Western Cape province.
There were several build-up events scheduled for late yesterday to garner support for today’s ANC rally.
The Western Cape is the only province run by the DA, and the ANC has pulled out all stops since the ANC president arrived in Cape Town on Sunday to ensure the DA-run city of Cape Town is painted in ANC colours.
Some ANC loyalists even left earlier than scheduled on Thursday, after social media was abuzz inviting “young lions” – a term used to describe ANC youth – to a “mobilisation blitz” at the Bellville Taxi rank yesterday afternoon.
The youths were headed to Blokomhos High School in Kraaifontein, where former deputy president of the ANCYL Ronald Lamola was scheduled to give a key note address.
BCM’s Nozizwe Otola confirmed yesterday that she had left the province on Thursday, in order to be part of the Kraaifontein mini-rally which was scheduled to start late last night.
“We have to be there and garner as much support for the Saturday rally,” said the Mdantsane resident.
ANC rallies locals for party
ANC Buffalo City regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo said at least 30 fully loaded buses had left the region by 2pm yesterday.
The Dispatch spotted a group of more than 100 men and women clad in ANC T-shirts still hanging around the City Hall after 3pm. Nokuzola Sonti from Duncan Village said she had registered her name to be part of the group going to Cape Town yesterday, but “no buses had arrived to pick us up since 11am”.
“We do not know what to do. But we will wait because we want to go and be part of this annual celebration of the ANC,” she said.
But Mkolo said it was likely that some of those who wanted to go to the rally would be left behind. “Remember, we indicated as early as Wednesday that there were more people who want to go than the number we had budgeted for.
“The people you saw in front of the City Hall might get a lift, they might not. It depends whether there are any more available buses going to Cape Town,” said Mkolo late yesterday.
ANC bosses were banking on the Eastern Cape to pull the biggest crowd in the Cape Town stadium as it is the closest province to the Western Cape.
The Dispatch reported on Wednesday that there was likely to be an overflow in most of the key regions such as Sarah Baartman – a region which covers Koukama and Bitou – both of which lie on the borders of the Western Cape province.
There were several build-up events scheduled for late yesterday to garner support for today’s ANC rally.
The Western Cape is the only province run by the DA, and the ANC has pulled out all stops since the ANC president arrived in Cape Town on Sunday to ensure the DA-run city of Cape Town is painted in ANC colours.
Some ANC loyalists even left earlier than scheduled on Thursday, after social media was abuzz inviting “young lions” – a term used to describe ANC youth – to a “mobilisation blitz” at the Bellville Taxi rank yesterday afternoon.
The youths were headed to Blokomhos High School in Kraaifontein, where former deputy president of the ANCYL Ronald Lamola was scheduled to give a key note address.
BCM’s Nozizwe Otola confirmed yesterday that she had left the province on Thursday, in order to be part of the Kraaifontein mini-rally which was scheduled to start late last night.
“We have to be there and garner as much support for the Saturday rally,” said the Mdantsane resident.
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