South African’s National Liberation Movement

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ANC Statements

ANC 110TH ANNIVERSARY STATE OF READINESS AND OTHER MATTERS OF NATIONAL INTEREST

The African National Congress will celebrate its 110th Anniversary physically in Limpopo on Saturday the 8th of January 2022 after it was unable to do so the previous year owing to the Covid 19 Pandemic that has since claimed thousands of life’s, ravaged global economies and forced countries to impose harsh lock downs, limit movements of citizens and restrict mass gatherings.

The ANC will celebrate this upcoming anniversary under strict Covid 19 regulations ensuring that each and every person who will be physically attending the event is accredited and well within the numbers permissible for outdoor gatherings under the disaster management act.

A array of programs are currently unfolding to reach out to communities and sectors throughout the Limpopo Province as part of preparations for the 110th anniversary.

All activities will culminate in the 110th anniversary rally on Saturday where President Ramaphosa will deliver the NEC statement giving marching orders for the year ahead. As we prepare to celebrate our anniversary, we also want to convey our congratulatory messages and gratitude to the founding fathers and mothers, members, supporters, voters and volunteers of our glorious movement for contributing to the sustenance and remarkable growth and development of this revolutionary giant over 110 years.

Our movement has traversed many challenges and has shown resilience continuing to champion programs that are aimed at fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of millions of our people. In the words of President Nelson Mandela

“We must remember to celebrate the milestones as you prepare for the road ahead”

The ANC issued its first January 8 special statement in 1972 in exile delivered by President OR Tambo. From 1972 the ANC only issued its next statement in 1979 dubbed the year of the spear and became a life long practise that has been maintained to date.

As we celebrate the 110th birthday of Africa’s oldest liberation movement, we do so mindful of the monumental challenges that still need to be overcome on our road towards a truly non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and

prosperous society for which a renewed is ANC is pivotal.

The 110th anniversary celebration will be live-streamed and broadcast as it takes place across all social media platforms, with the official programme starting at 11:30 and President Ramaphosa addressing at 13:00.

The main celebration will be preceded by a number of build up activities. Officials of the ANC and National Executive Committee members are already on the ground, visiting royal houses in the province, meeting with communities, the religious leaders and many other sectors of society.

Other highlights of these build up activities includes, the Lilian Ngoyi Memorial lecture spearheaded by the ANCWL, the Peter Mokaba Memorial events spearheaded by the ANCYL, Fundraising events such as the Presidential Golf Day and Fundraising Gala Dinner We have noted a number of social gatherings which are not necessarily by the African National Congress in and around Polokwane. We want to call on all those participating in this different to observe COVID 19 regulations.

ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE

The ANC shares sentiments expressed by its parliamentary caucus over the fire that engulfed that Parliament – a National Heritage on Sunday and Monday, 2nd and 3rd January 2022.

The ANC is equally saddened by the destruction the fire caused to the infrastructure of the Houses of Parliament

made up of the National Assembly and the National Council of Province The ANC joins many calls on the law enforcement agencies and other competent institutions to investigate the causes of the fire.

The ANC further appreciates the heroic role played by fire fighters, constant update by presiding officers and parliamentary staff including the National Executive Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa who provided leadership at

a very difficult time for the nation Any possible and intentional attack on parliament is an attack on our sovereignty and democracy.

The ANC once more reiterates the position of its parliamentary caucus that part of healing the divisions of the apartheid and colonial past requires that we should continue to build a society based on democratic values, social and economic justice and fundamental human rights where the rule of law is paramount.

We also condemn an attack on the constitutional court as an important pillar of our democracy.

The constitutional court is a powerful symbol of our constitutional dispensation and of the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law in our country.

SPECIAL NEC

The NEC is sitting today in a special session to finalise arrangements for the delivery of the Jan 8 Statement.

END

ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Enquiries

Pule Mabe

National Spokesperson

071 623 4975