Tight security, filling seats as Ramaphosa prepares for ANC 8 January address

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa at the party’s 114 year celebration at Moruleng Stadium in the North West.

Rosetta Msimango/News24

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the 8 January statement at Moruleng Stadium,North West,addressing service delivery and political issues.Security at the 20 000-seater stadium was heightened,with manual searches conducted due to scanner power issues,which delayed entry.The ANC Youth League threatened to disrupt the event unless Gwede Mantashe apologised for comments about youth laziness.ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the annual 8 January statement at the Moruleng Stadium in the North West on Saturday.

It is expected that Ramaphosa will use his address to give party members marching orders after the new year and ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

Ramaphosa is also expected to address service delivery issues after spending the past week visiting parts of the region as part of buildup events during the week. The president is also expected to address other political matters.

By 08:00,ANC supporters had started to fill the 20 000-seater Moruleng Stadium,with the majority of attendees yet to be seated.

ADVERTISEMENT

Security at the stadium was at an all-time high with police,clad in military uniforms,searching cars for explosives.

Journalists making their way into the designated parking were made to open bonnets,boots,and even the spare wheel compartment for intense checks.

Scanners were,however,defunct due to power problems. This meant bags and photographic equipment had to be searched manually.

ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane told journalists earlier that search points had delayed entry to the stadium.

ADVERTISEMENT

Celebrations continue at Meruleng Stadium where the ANC is commemorating it's 114 anniversary.

Rosetta Msimango/News24

“Buses are beginning to come in; there is a search point that was actually delaying the movement. I have been to that search point,we are quite certain that the stadium will be full,” Mokonyane said.

She said the party had reached out to the area to develop a list of the people who are expected to attend.

“Therefore,we know who will be in the bus,who will be coming from where,” Mokonyane said,adding that a transport plan had been handed over to the municipality’s traffic department and the SA Police Service.

Celebrations continue at Meruleng Stadium where the ANC is commemorating it's 114 anniversary.

Rosetta Msimango/News24

“There are going to be a number of walk-ins,and our target is to make sure that this stadium is going to be filled by the people and supporters of the ANC from the North West,” Mokonyane said.

On Friday,the ANC Youth League threatened it would not allow Ramaphosa to deliver the 8 January statement until ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe apologised for saying the youth were lazy.

By 11:00,it was unclear whether Mantashe had indeed apologised. Seats were also starting to fill up.

In the meantime,ANC national executive committee members were dancing on stage.