Mbalula defends ANC's choice of Mandela Park as venue for Jan 8th statement

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC)'s 113th-anniversary events are set to gain momentum in the coming days as the party's Dullah Omar region in Cape Town plays host to the celebrations this year. 

The party's leaders are already fanning out across the Mother City on Monday to reflect on its legacy, listening to people's concerns and set the tone for the year in the annual January 8th statement, which will be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday.

Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said it's also fitting to host the party's anniversary in a province from which many anti-apartheid struggle stalwarts have hailed. 

He defended the party's choice of Mandela Park, a complex of sportsfields in Khayelitsha, to host the highlight event, saying the party expects to fill it to a capacity of 22,000 people.

"We didn't have a first and second choice. We took a deliberate decision as part of the rebuilding of the ANC that we need to connect with our people and that we need to go where our people are and Khayelitsha is the biggest constituency of the ANC in this province."