ANC, EFF mock MK Party’s underwhelming anniversary event

Jacob Zuma

Cape Town – The MK Party’s first anniversary celebration at Moses Mabhida Stadium has sparked a debate over attendance numbers.

While thousands attended, the stadium was not filled to capacity, drawing criticism from ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and EFF MP Sinawo Thambo. 

Both questioned the party’s decline in turnout compared to earlier rallies, with Thambo highlighting the poor showing in the party’s stronghold as a significant failure.

“Jokes aside, I don’t understand how they were able to organise a successful rally at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, yet could not do so at Moses Mabhida in eThekwini,” said Thambo.

“Arguably, this is their base. This is a drastic decline in either organisational capacity or appeal in seven months. What has changed in seven months that has resulted in a decay of this nature? It’s a curious scenario.

“When they fail dismally and embarrassingly, they want to change the narrative that filling stadiums doesn’t win elections. No-one ever claimed that. If going to Mabhida was not about filling the stadium, why did you go there?

“Stadium politics are about a show of force and boosting the morale of the rank and file, and that was a lame showing at Mabhida. What a poor way to close a year and mark your existence.”

Meanwhile, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said: “This fallacious claim Zuma is making that elections were rigged, and he got more support; we should have seen that in big numbers today at Moses Mabhida,” he said.

MK Party leader Dali Mpofu attributed the lower attendance to logistical issues, including transport challenges involving PRASA, but defended the turnout, noting that over 50,000 attendees was impressive for a one-year-old party.

The event follows the party’s strong performance in the May general election, where it placed third, just six months after its launch.

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