With only a day to go to the ANC’s annual celebrations, Eastern Cape ANC regional leaders are working hard to convince party supporters to “invade” Cape Town this weekend.
ANC bosses in Luthuli House gave the Eastern Cape leaders the task of assembling at least 10000 ANC members and supporters and busing them to the Cape Town Stadium for the party’s 103rd anniversary celebrations.
Buffalo City ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo said they had been busy at their Oxford Street offices over the past few days registering those interested in going to Cape Town to listen to President Jacob Zuma present what is now known as the ANC’s January 8 statement.
The statement encompasses what the president is likely to prioritise when he presents his state of the nation address later this month or next month.
“The PEC set a target of busing 1600 from our region, but as of mid-day today , we had gone past that target.
“We are going to encourage some of those in excess to use their private cars. Everyone is upbeat, and looking forward to Saturday.
“We are busy dealing with other logistics because we will have to provide food and refreshments for our people along the way.”
The Daily Dispatch reported earlier this week that the Eastern Cape had been identified as one of main crowd pullers for the rally.
The Cape Town stadium has a capacity of 52000, and the party was confident the stadium would be filled to capacity on Saturday.
Leaders from the ANC’s Nelson Mandela Metro, Sarah Baartman and Amathole regions also confirmed yesterday that it was all systems go.
The Nelson Mandela Metro regional secretary, Zandisile Quphe said they received a positive response. The region is expected to send the biggest delegation, numbering 2700 members.
“About 2500 people have confirmed that they are going. We will be recruiting more people, so that when we are due to depart from the various pick-up points on Saturday morning, the transport, which has been provided by the headquarters, will be full,” said Quphe.
Sarah Baartman region is also sending a big delegation. The region covers areas on the border of the Western Cape and Koukamma and Bitou.
Sarah Baartman secretary Scara Njadayi said the Koukamma municipality would send 500 delegates.
“It makes economic sense to send more people from Koukamma and Bitou because it only takes them five to six hours to go to Cape Town. “We are pulling out all the stops to ensure that people don’t withdraw at the last minute.”
The DA-led Western Cape is the only province which is not run by the ANC.
With the local government elections set for next year, the ANC is going all out to win back the Western Cape, according to Zuma.
This weekend’s rally is believed to be part of that recruitment drive.
Logistical arrangements in the ANC’s Amathole region were at an advanced stage by late yesterday.
Amathole regional secretary Thembelihle Terice Ntuthu said they would send more than the required 1000 people.
“We have collected enough signatures from those interested in going to Cape Town. By midday all sub-regions knew their pick-up points, departure times and who the bus driver will be.
“In addition to the buses provided for by the national and provincial offices, there will be two more minibuses, and several of our members and supporters have opted to use their private cars.
“We can safely say that, indeed, it’s all systems go,” said Ntuthu.
Additional supporters will be coming from the eastern part of the province. That includes 1000 from Chris Hani district, 800 from OR Tambo, 500 from Joe Gqabi as well as 200 from Alfred Nzo.
Njadayi said gates at Cape Town Stadium would open at 7am.
“Our plan is to arrive as early as possible so that when gates open at the stadium, ANC supporters from our area will be ready to come in and choose the best spot,” said Njadayi.
Other regional leaders could not be reached by the time of going to print. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
ANC gearing up for bash
ANC bosses in Luthuli House gave the Eastern Cape leaders the task of assembling at least 10000 ANC members and supporters and busing them to the Cape Town Stadium for the party’s 103rd anniversary celebrations.
Buffalo City ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo said they had been busy at their Oxford Street offices over the past few days registering those interested in going to Cape Town to listen to President Jacob Zuma present what is now known as the ANC’s January 8 statement.
The statement encompasses what the president is likely to prioritise when he presents his state of the nation address later this month or next month.
“The PEC set a target of busing 1600 from our region, but as of mid-day today , we had gone past that target.
“We are going to encourage some of those in excess to use their private cars. Everyone is upbeat, and looking forward to Saturday.
“We are busy dealing with other logistics because we will have to provide food and refreshments for our people along the way.”
The Daily Dispatch reported earlier this week that the Eastern Cape had been identified as one of main crowd pullers for the rally.
The Cape Town stadium has a capacity of 52000, and the party was confident the stadium would be filled to capacity on Saturday.
Leaders from the ANC’s Nelson Mandela Metro, Sarah Baartman and Amathole regions also confirmed yesterday that it was all systems go.
The Nelson Mandela Metro regional secretary, Zandisile Quphe said they received a positive response. The region is expected to send the biggest delegation, numbering 2700 members.
“About 2500 people have confirmed that they are going. We will be recruiting more people, so that when we are due to depart from the various pick-up points on Saturday morning, the transport, which has been provided by the headquarters, will be full,” said Quphe.
Sarah Baartman region is also sending a big delegation. The region covers areas on the border of the Western Cape and Koukamma and Bitou.
Sarah Baartman secretary Scara Njadayi said the Koukamma municipality would send 500 delegates.
“It makes economic sense to send more people from Koukamma and Bitou because it only takes them five to six hours to go to Cape Town. “We are pulling out all the stops to ensure that people don’t withdraw at the last minute.”
The DA-led Western Cape is the only province which is not run by the ANC.
With the local government elections set for next year, the ANC is going all out to win back the Western Cape, according to Zuma.
This weekend’s rally is believed to be part of that recruitment drive.
Logistical arrangements in the ANC’s Amathole region were at an advanced stage by late yesterday.
Amathole regional secretary Thembelihle Terice Ntuthu said they would send more than the required 1000 people.
“We have collected enough signatures from those interested in going to Cape Town. By midday all sub-regions knew their pick-up points, departure times and who the bus driver will be.
“In addition to the buses provided for by the national and provincial offices, there will be two more minibuses, and several of our members and supporters have opted to use their private cars.
“We can safely say that, indeed, it’s all systems go,” said Ntuthu.
Additional supporters will be coming from the eastern part of the province. That includes 1000 from Chris Hani district, 800 from OR Tambo, 500 from Joe Gqabi as well as 200 from Alfred Nzo.
Njadayi said gates at Cape Town Stadium would open at 7am.
“Our plan is to arrive as early as possible so that when gates open at the stadium, ANC supporters from our area will be ready to come in and choose the best spot,” said Njadayi.
Other regional leaders could not be reached by the time of going to print. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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