By Johnathan Paoli
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has insisted that about 20,000 people attended the party’s 114th anniversary rally at Moruleng Stadium in the North West, pushing back against criticism on social media that the governing party failed to fill the venue.
Speaking during the rally on Saturday, Mbalula told supporters that attendance figures showed a strong turnout despite claims to the contrary.
“Comrades, in and outside this stadium, it has been reported that 20,000 people turned up for this rally,” he said, describing the numbers as a positive showing for the organisation.
The rally formed part of the ANC’s annual January 8 celebrations, marking 114 years since the party’s founding in 1912.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the traditional January 8 Statement, outlining the party’s priorities and tasks for the year ahead, including organisational renewal, service delivery and economic recovery.
However, images and videos circulating on social media platforms on Saturday sparked debate, with critics pointing to visible empty seats inside Moruleng Stadium, which is reported to have a capacity of around 30,000.
Observers at the stadium noted that when the official programme resumed at about 12:30 after Ramaphosa’s arrival, thousands of chairs remained unoccupied.
The scenes stood in contrast to similar January 8 rallies held more than a decade ago, when the ANC regularly filled major venues or even overflowed into additional stadiums for anniversary events and election manifesto launches.
Despite the optics, senior figures within the party rejected suggestions that the turnout signalled a dramatic decline in support.
This allegedly included denying entry to vehicles transporting food parcels and ANC-branded T-shirts, items traditionally distributed to attendees as they enter the venue. These giveaways are often used to encourage early arrival and help fill stadiums ahead of main speeches.
The ANC’s choice of venue has also drawn scrutiny.
In recent years, the party has moved away from hosting anniversary rallies at mega stadiums.
Last year in the Western Cape, it bypassed major venues such as Cape Town Stadium, Athlone Stadium and Newlands Stadium, opting instead for the much smaller Khayelitsha Stadium.
A similar approach was taken this year in the North West, where the ANC selected Moruleng Stadium rather than the 44,000-seat Royal Bafokeng Stadium nearby.
Critics argue that even with the smaller venue, the party still struggled to achieve a visibly full house.
Nevertheless, ANC leaders maintain that attendance should not be judged solely on visuals captured at specific moments.
They argue that people move in and out of rallies throughout the day and that attendance inside and outside the stadium should be considered.
As the ANC reflects on its 114-year history, the debate over numbers at Moruleng Stadium has underscored broader questions about the party’s current standing, its mobilisation capacity, and how it presents strength and unity ahead of the upcoming local elections.
INSIDE POLITICS