For the first time since 2015, the African National Congress (ANC) will host its annual birthday celebrations in the Western Cape, with this year marking the party’s 113th anniversary.
The event is set to take place on Saturday, 11 January 2025, at the Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha, a venue with a capacity of 22,000—significantly smaller than locations used in previous years.
While reports of the ANC’s ongoing financial challenges have dominated headlines, the party has dismissed claims that the reduced scale of the event is a result of cost-cutting, framing it instead as a strategic decision.
“It was a conscious decision. It has nothing to do with money. We know we are an organisation that has challenges with regard to money and resources. We are not a wealthy party, so the question of money is ever-present,” party SG Fikile Mbalula clarified.
A comparative look at past spending
The ANC’s anniversary celebrations have long been known for their grandeur.
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The centenary event in 2012 cost an estimated R100 million, while the 108th anniversary celebration in Kimberley reportedly exceeded R50 million.
These costs included expenses for venues, entertainment, accommodation, transport, and catering for thousands of supporters.
This year’s event in Khayelitsha represents a sharp departure from such lavish spending.
Hosting the celebration at the Mandela Park Stadium is expected to dramatically reduce costs related to logistics and transport.
Unlike previous years, where thousands of supporters were bussed in from across the country at the party’s expense, the ANC has denied any directive prohibiting such arrangements but confirmed a more localised focus for attendance.
“We will assist our people in and around here with transport. We will work with taxi operators to help people get to the venue and others will walk in. That is part and parcel of the rebuilding of the ANC, and that is important to us. This is the constituency that voted for the ANC religiously without questioning. In the last election, they did not come out in their numbers, and we are here to rekindle our connection,” Mbalula explained.
By choosing a smaller venue and reducing associated costs, the ANC could save tens of millions of rands.
However, the party insists that this shift is about strategic outreach rather than financial necessity.
A sobering anniversary amid political challenges
The scaled-down celebration comes at a challenging time for the ANC, which suffered significant losses in the 2024 general elections.
For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994, the party fell below 50% of the national vote, leading to the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) with its long-time rival, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and other smaller parties.
This coalition government, while functional, has placed scrutiny on the ANC’s dominance and the compromises required in its governance.
The decision to host the anniversary in the DA-controlled Western Cape further serves as a crucial indication of the shifting political landscape.
Political analysts have described the reduced capacity event as symbolic of the ANC’s attempt to reconnect with communities at a grassroots level.
Hosting the celebration in Khayelitsha, a township with historical significance in the anti-apartheid struggle, may be seen as an effort to reaffirm the party’s presence in a province where its influence has waned over the years.
While the ANC has confirmed the venue and date, additional details about the program, road closures, and key addresses—including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s January 8th Statement—are expected to be released later this week.
