CoCT Mayor clears air on ANC's use of Khayelitsha sports complex for Jan 8 statement

CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis believes detractors of the Government of National Unity (GNU) within the African National Congress (ANC) are behind a false narrative about the use of a Khayelitsha sports complex to deliver the party’s January 8th statement in the city on Saturday.

He says the party's Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, is among them.

Mashatile has this week been critical of the Democratic Alliance-run city, saying it’s doing nothing to improve service delivery to poor communities. 

But Hill-Lewis says it’s part of a campaign to shore up support within the ANC to rail against the national coalition.

In the run-up to Saturday’s big event - the ANC has this week said it’s deliberately chosen the Khayelitsha venue for its anniversary celebrations to reconnect with its support base - and because it has nothing to prove by filling up large stadiums.

ALSO READ: Mantashe: Khayelitsha the perfect place for ANC's January 8 rally

But the gloves came off on Thursday when Geordin Hill-Lewis posted on X that the ANC is being untruthful. 

He says in the spirit of the GNU, he tried to be helpful when he was contacted in November to secure a venue.

But Hill-Lewis says he was not prepared to pull strings by cancelling pre-booked events at two of the city’s biggest stadiums.

“They are getting this whole massive [Panyaza] Lesufi faction and some might say Mashatile faction arguing against the continuation or existence of the GNU, and so the way they shore up that support internally is by attacking the other big partner and party in the GNU.”

Hill-Lewis says he’s committed to cooperating as a city with the GNU and says millions are being spent to improve infrastructure in the city’s townships.