WATCH | ANC denies claims members must fund transport for Cape Town rally

Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri

Cape Town – The African National Congress (ANC) has strongly denied media claims that members have been instructed to cover their own transport costs to attend the party’s 113th-anniversary celebration at Mandela Park Stadium, Khayelitsha, Cape Town.

Speaking during an interview with Newzroom Africa, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri dismissed the reports as baseless and announced plans to approach the Press Ombudsman for recourse.

“I just need to say this very strongly, and we are not the people to speak in strong terms, but we dismiss that notion that there is a directive of such nature from the ANC. There is absolutely no such a thing at all,” she said.

“An interview was done with the SG (secretary general Fikile Mbalula) and I was also consulted and fielded a number of questions. None of what we said suggests that our people are going to find their way to Cape Town. That is an untrue issue.

“Secondly, it is a tradition of the ANC that the hosting province of any January 8 (statement) is actually led and populated by the hosting province. The neighbouring provinces would ordinarily just flock in because it is a culture of the ANC.”

Bhengu-Motsiri emphasized that the Western Cape, as the host province, will populate the event without needing buses from other provinces, consistent with ANC tradition.
She also clarified that the stadium has a capacity of 22,000, with additional space in an overflow area to accommodate more attendees.

This year’s celebration, marking the ANC’s first in the Western Cape since 2015, is smaller compared to previous events in larger venues.

The ANC has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a well-organised event, rejecting claims of logistical issues or financial constraints.

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