The African National Congress (ANC), Africa's oldest liberation movement, celebrates its 113th anniversary this weekend. This year's 8 January Statement Rally will be held on Saturday at Nelson Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
The ANC has been the ruling party since the first democratic elections in 1994, marking the country's political liberation from apartheid. However, in last year's general election, the government was unable to win a majority in parliament, and a government of national unity was formed.
ANC NEC Member Lindiwe Zulu:
violation of discipline
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has announced that the party will adopt a decisive approach to dealing with breaches of discipline among its members. He made the comments during a media briefing at the Khayelitsha venue where the party's annual January 8 statement will be held. The capacity of the stadium is 22,000 people
Mr Mbalula said the party was confident of a full seat. But party members such as Tony Yengeni have criticized the venue, saying it was a sign that large crowds were not expected.
Mr Mbabula said this type of behavior would no longer be tolerated.
“Tony Yengeni is nothing but a political Casanova. I told him he will be prosecuted. Discipline in the ANC is important. Do something against the ANC leadership at 2 a.m. I have seen people tweeting and bringing the party into disrepute. They too will be dealt with immediately.”
University of Zululand political analyst and historian Dr Zakhele Chamase believes that unfulfilled promises and unimplemented parliamentary resolutions contributed to the party's decline.
He says sectarianism and breakaway parties have also taken their toll. “What has led to the decline of the ANC is corruption and failure to deliver; budgets exist but they are not being utilized to their full potential for the benefit of the services they are meant to serve; and nepotism, which plagues People, the last straw was factionalism, which developed within the ANC itself and it spread beyond them, breakaway parties within the ANC starting with the UDM, COPE, ATM, uMkhonto we Sizwe has appeared because there is a sense of faction within the ruling party and they are using the majority support they have on the ground to ignore whatever is happening and arrogantly do not pay attention to it. . ”
Political analyst Nkosikhulle Nyembezi also weighed in on the upcoming January 8 statement.:
