The ANC’s 109th celebration of its January 8 statement in Limpopo next year, which was originally planned to be limited to 100 people, has now been cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns.
In a statement on Monday, party spokesperson Pule Mabe said the decision to cancel came after top ANC officials had received a briefing from Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on the “second wave”.
“The prognosis paints a worrying picture and all indications are that the virus will escalate in terms of the rate of infections in all provinces, other than the Northern Cape,” he said.
“The officials were unanimous that it was untimely to forge ahead with the celebration in view of the aggressive nature of the pandemic. We are of the view that we have to uphold measures that are prescribed to minimise the spread and impact of this pandemic.
“In this regard the national officials have taken a conscious decision to cancel the planned January 8th commemoration event that was scheduled to take place at Ga-Mphahlele in Limpopo and all regions of our country.”
Instead of a physical event, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa will read the January 8 statement and this will be beamed on all ANC digital platforms.
The media will have direct access to the address and the NEC will have a virtual meeting on January 6 to finalise the content of the statement.
The party’s January 8 statement is usually followed by a rally.
Deputy secretary- general Jessie Duarte said the event would honour Sefako Makgatho, who was ANC president in 1917.