Clock ticks down on ANC's preparations for January 8 rally in Khayelitsha

CAPE TOWN - The clock is ticking down on the culmination of the African National Congress (ANC)'s anniversary celebrations in its biggest support base in the Western Cape - Khayelitsha.

The party’s first deputy secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane, spent considerable time on Friday afternoon inspecting the set-up for the January 8th statement.

She said that the party’s taken a conscious decision to host the event there to reconnect with the party’s core support base, many of whom stayed away from the polls last year.

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This despite Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis saying on Thursday that last-minute planning made it impossible to accommodate the event at the city's big stadiums.

There was a flurry of activity at Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, where the ANC is expecting a crowd of at least 22,000 people.

Dozens of workers unpacked rows of chairs under three marquees set up in front of the stage where President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to make his address. 

Mokonyane said that he would focus on the party's renewal. 

Over 2,000 invited guests are also expected at the event. 

"There will also be people who are walk-ins. There’s going to be a street carnival that’s going to happen, which is also going to attract people and of course, it will be an important day where we accommodate anyone who's coming to celebrate this organisation – the ANC."

Mokonyane said this set up showed that it's possible for the ANC to host this event anywhere.