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Ramaphosa's speech, described as the January 8 statement, outlined the party’s priorities and gave marching orders to all ANC members.
Picture: Michel Bega
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the party’s annual birthday celebrations in Cape Town on Saturday.
The ANC turned 113 on 8 January, normally celebrated with a week of activities and fundraising.
Ramaphosa delivered a speech, described as the January 8 statement, which outlines the party’s priorities and gives marching orders to all ANC members.
This year, the statement occured with the ANC in a coalition government described as the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The celebrations will take place at the Mandela Park stadium in Khayelitsha.
Around 20 000 people are expected to attend the event.
Watch the event live here:
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13:30 ‘Election results was a strategic setback’
Ramaphosa said the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) sees the outcome of the elections on 22 May as a strategic setback.
“We must be honest that the results were a really sad moment for the ANC. Losing the majority in government was a huge setback for the ANC.”
He said that without an effective response, such a setback could halt or derail the setback of socio-economic transformation.
13:10 Ramaphosa: People of the WC ‘spoke with one voice’
Ramaphosa said that during the past week, as they crossed the Western Cape, the ANC leaders met their people. “They all spoke with one voice and wanted to see the ANC emerge strong. They wanted to see unity in the ANC, and they all said that without unity, our revolution would be defeated by counter-revolution.
He added that splinter parties wanted to destroy the ANC, but “they remain small and weak and will never defeat the ANC”.
Ramaphosa said some of these parties mascarade as being more radical than the ANC. “The common cause of all these forces is depriving the ANC of using state power to effect change and to pursue the NDR effectively.”
He further said that without state power, the NDR would not succeed, and only one organisation can have state power – the ANC. “State power will always be in the hands of the ANC.”
13:00 ‘ANC is committed to decisive action’
Ramaphosa noted the new political environment following the elections on 22 May. “The ANC is no longer in the majority in parliament to form a government on its own and now leads a GNU with nine other political parties.”
However, Ramaphosa said the ANC is committed to decisive action on three urgent and interrelated fronts.
“Firstly, we aim to improve the ability to create jobs and to ensure that we improve the lives of our people. Secondly, we seek to improve the quality of services, and thirdly, to renew and rebuild the ANC to provide decisive and ethical leadership in resolving our country’s problems.”
12:40 Ramaphosa: ‘ANC is still alive and should be respected’
President Cyril Ramaphosa has now taken to the stage and is delivering his January 8 statement to thousands of ANC supporters.
Ramaphosa said he was happy about the “large” number of people attending the ANC birthday celebrations. He said the ANC is still alive and should be respected.
He said Cape Town is a city where wealth and poverty converge and that it was a city where European settlers committed genocide.
“Cape Town has a history of resistance and defiance.”
Ramaphosa recounted the ANC’s history and its links to the Western Cape. He said the people of the Western Cape were the ones who first fought colonialism.
He said there is great inequality, unemployment and many other challenges in the Western Cape.
Ramaphosa said challenges that must also be confronted are crime, violence, gender-based violence and femicide. “We must also confront drug abuse, unequal access to education, water and sanitation, bad roads, and shortage of housing.”
12:35 Mapaila skips celebrations for Venezuelan inauguration amid tensions
The deputy national chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP), Thulas Nxesi, said the party’s secretary general, Solly Mapaila, was not at the ANC’s 113th birthday because he was attending the inauguration of the Venezuelan president.
Mapaila has been seen as a controversial figure in the Tripartite Alliance because of his views on the GNU.
He has been locking horns with the ANC’s leadership, describing them as traitors.
He has often warned the ANC to be careful of its relationship with the DA.
Mapaila announced last year that the SACP will contest local government elections in 2026.
Nxesi said the SACP is committed to the alliance but still believes in the re-configuration of the alliance.
He said all members of the Tripartite Alliance should lead the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).
He said the SACP had no intention to leave the alliance. “We must not engage in populist name-calling insults.”
12:25 Cosatu says ANC defectors are ‘hungry for power’
President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Zingiswa Losi said the federation was still in an alliance with the ANC because the party has championed workers’ rights.
He said the ANC had also made it possible for the unemployed to receive R350. He criticised those who left the ANC and described them as hungry for power.
12:18 ‘Sanco will support ANC’
South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) president Richard Mkhungo thanked the ANC for forming the Government of National Unity (GNU) and said it is an opportunity to stabilise the country.
He said Sanco will support the ANC in the upcoming local government elections.
Sanco is part of the Tripartite Alliance.
12:06 ‘DA the enemy of the revolution’
A representative of the ANC in the Western Cape said the Human Rights Commission must investigate the living conditions of people in Khayelitsha. He says the Democratic Alliance (DA) is the enemy of the revolution.
Mantashe clarified that the January 8 statement is a message from the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC), not the president.
11:30 Event starts with inter-faith prayers
There is no sign of the Jewish community as the event begins with inter-faith prayers.
However, a representative from the Muslim faith will offer his prayers as announced.
There was a slight uproar when a Rastafarian priest was announced as one who would also be offering prayers.
A representative from the African spiritual community is said to be stuck in traffic.
When he prayed, the Rasta priest told the crowd to keep quiet: “I am now talking to God ANC.” He thanked God for the ANC’s “great deeds” and likened the ANC to the prophets of old. He also asked for strength for the ANC and shouted, “Jah.”
As the interfaith prayers were wrapped up, the sangoma who was supposed to say prayers was still absent.
11:20 Mantashe: ANC isn’t ‘instant porridge’
ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe said the ANC is not “instant” porridge but must be boiled.
He said the party learned this while doing door-to-door campaigns in Cape Town.
His remarks come after ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile and his security team were told to leave a house where they were conducting a door-to-door campaign.
As the ANC’s birthday celebrations are underway at the Mandela Park stadium, Mantashe asked the choir to lead the celebration with a hymn and the national anthem.
The ANC was founded in 1912 in Bloemfontein. Since it was founded in a church, it was largely considered a Christian organisation.
09:00 Watch: ANC members and supporters arrive in high spirits
The atmosphere is electric at Mandela Park Stadium as ANC members and supporters gather in high spirits, eagerly awaiting the arrival of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Today, we stand united, ready to hear the January 8 Statement that will guide us in the year ahead.
— African National Congress (@MYANC) January 11, 2025
##ANC113… pic.twitter.com/jxI3ahsxpl
Asphelelanga! 🎉
— African National Congress (@MYANC) January 11, 2025
It’s a party at Mandela Park Stadium! 🎉🔥 The vibe is incredible, and we’re ready to welcome YOU. Come join us as we await President Cyril Ramaphosa to deliver the January 8 Statement.
Gates are open! #ANC113#ANCJan08#ANCJan08Statement pic.twitter.com/R6CKNYq2c5
Watch: Ramaphosa speaks at PBF presidential gala on Friday
“It is quite a great joy to have the 113th anniversary of the formation of our great movement here in the Western Cape… we remember the contributions that the founders of our great movement made 113 years ago and reflect on the history, achievements and setbacks as an organisation,” Ramaphosa said.
“It is actually quite a great joy to have the 113th anniversary of the formation of our great movement here in the Western Cape… we remember the contributions that the founders of our great movement made 113 years ago and reflect on the history, achievements and setbacks as an… https://t.co/gJ4CzoTXcd pic.twitter.com/kgWp6MWCsI
— African National Congress (@MYANC) January 10, 2025
Watch: A jubilant mood at the PBF presidential gala on Friday
The mood is jubilant at the PBF Presidential Gala where business leaders and international delegates are gathered to network and connect with the ANC leadership. #ANC113 #ANCJan08#ANCJan08statement pic.twitter.com/qzCfjcjhiW
— African National Congress (@MYANC) January 10, 2025
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