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Scores of ANC supporters flock to Mbombela Stadium in anticipation of Ramaphosa’s address

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Johnathan Paoli

Scores of ANC supporters flock to Mbombela Stadium in anticipation of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address.

It’s all systems go for the presentation of the ANC’s January 8th Statement and its 112 anniversary celebrations on Saturday at the 40 000 seater Mbombela Stadium.

Traditionally, the ruling party holds an annual commemoration rally marking the formation of the ANC back in January 1912.

On 8 January 1912, chiefs, representatives of people’s and church organisations, and other prominent individuals gathered in Bloemfontein and formed the African National Congress, with the declaration that its aim was to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms.

The address is expected to be most likely framed as a “defensive campaign” – highlighting the party’s successes since 1994 – according to political analysts, especially because of the heavy criticism that have been leveled against it for its failure to deliver basic services such as water and electricity.

The ANC has admitted that the energy crisis undermined economic growth and investment prospects and persistent load-shedding destroyed businesses and compromised the production of food and the provision of social services such as water, sanitation, community safety, education and health.

The party said that in line with the 55th National Conference, it emphatically and firmly resolved that urgent and decisive action had to be taken to place the country back on a positive development path that puts the interests of the people first.

That in order to respond adequately and boldly to these objective difficulties facing the people, the party had to deal decisively and fearlessly with its own subjective weaknesses.

In last year’s January 8th Statement President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined key priorities which included specific initiatives and programmes to deepen the Renewal of the ANC; to accelerate the resolution of the energy crisis to end load-shedding; to mobilise social partners around economic reconstruction and recovery in order to increase job creation, investment and empowerment; to improve the delivery of basic services and maintaining infrastructure; to strengthen the fight against crime and corruption; and actively pursue the building of a better Africa and world.

Saturday’s address would be critical and all ears would be on Ramaphosa to hear what the party’s take would be on the progress since last year’s January 8 statement.

Ramaphosa’s address today is also crucial because this is the election year, and the party will have to show South Africans why, if any, they should be voted back in office after 30 years in government.

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