ANC intensifies Northwest community outreach ahead of 114th Anniversary

The ANCis carrying on with community engagement in the North West on Tuesday as part of its 114th birthday celebrations.

With the party marking 114 years since its establishment on Thursday, this year’s annual celebration is being held in Rustenburg.

The festivities will conclude with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s January 8 statement at a rally on Saturday, where he is expected to outline the party’s key priorities for the year.

However, this year’s birthday celebrations have been overshadowed by the United States’ invasion of Venezuela.

Ordinarily, the ANC would be focusing on cake-cutting celebrations, door-to-door campaigns, and community engagements, but it has had to spend considerable time condemning America’s invasion of Venezuela.

Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party and the South African government cannot stand by and watch the United States abuse its military power.

"Our understanding of what has happened to Venezuela can be summed up as nothing else but imperialist aggression. The United States and the Trump administration in particular is imposing itself as the world’s policeman.

Meanwhile, ANC NEC members will go from house to house in Rustenburg on Tuesday, in hopes to convince residents to wave the ANC flag.

Despite being accused of accepting half a million rand in bribes from convicted criminal Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, former police minister Bheki Cele will also form part of the ANC’s door to door campaign.