Analyst suggests ANC celebrating birthday in WC in bid to regain lost ground in province
For the first time in a decade, the ANC is marking its anniversary in the province at the Khayelitsha township.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula held a press briefing at Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, Cape Town on 6 January 2025. Picture: @MYANC/X
JOHANNESBURG - Some political analysts are suggesting the African National Congress (ANC) is hosting its annual birthday celebration in the Western Cape in a bid to regain lost ground in the province.
For the first time in a decade, the ANC is marking its anniversary in the province at the Khayelitsha township.
The party is turning 113 years old on January 8 and will celebrate with festivities throughout the week.
The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape have been strongholds for the Democratic Alliance for nearly two decades, with the ANC struggling to make a comeback.
READ: Analyst suggests ANC use January 8 celebrations to focus on upcoming local govt elections
Although the ANC celebrates its anniversary in different provinces each year, some believe this year's choice to hold the event in Cape Town is of special significance.
Political analyst, Dirk Kotze, suggests that the move represents the party's effort to reclaim the Western Cape, a province it lost to the DA in 2009.
"The province is where the DA is the strongest, so they certainly want to make an impact and to counter the DA and therefore, the Western Cape is the best place to hold this event," said Kotze.
ANC bigwigs are already spread out across the city of Cape Town to try and woo residents to attend its birthday celebrations on Saturday.