Against a heated political backdrop in South Africa, the recent gathering of the ANC party at the Siyanqoba rally at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec, Johannesburg, attracted keen interest but did not quite live up to expectations.
From 10 a.m., buses from different provinces of the country converged on the stadium, carrying supporters who came in large numbers to support their party. Meanwhile, renowned artists put on a show before party president Cyril Ramaphosa spoke to galvanize the troops ahead of the elections.
However, around 2 p.m., half of the stadium’s 94,000 seats appeared empty as Ramaphosa prepared to speak to deliver a final message before Wednesday’s vote.
As Ramaphosa spoke, thousands of ANC supporters preferred to gather outside the stadium, some enjoying a moment of fellowship and music. When asked about this, some spoke of a more festive atmosphere outside than inside where the president spoke to the crowd.
A supporter from Limpopo, Pleasure Nghojie, explained: “We have been here since this morning, we are tired, we just want to drink and enjoy the atmosphere here in Joburg.”
One incident occurred when former President Thabo Mbeki appeared in a recorded interview during the singing of the national anthem, announcing that he could not attend the rally because he was in hospital. This sequence was quickly interrupted by the production team.
As has become a tradition during recent ANC protests, a coffin bearing the inscriptions “RIP Zuma” and “RIP MK party” was seen in the stadium. Other supporters held signs with slogans such as “Zuma is a little boy” or “MK rest in peace”, in connection with former ANC leader Jacob Zuma having recently supported a new party.
During his speech, Ramaphosa echoed the demands of South Africans he met during the campaign, expressing a desire to increase distress assistance from R350 to R370. However, this announcement left a bitter taste among many activists.
Faced with high unemployment, the ANC has pledged to maintain financial support for the poor while implementing a new basic income program for workers.
Ramaphosa also criticized political parties considering scrapping the national minimum wage, calling it an attack on workers and efforts for a fairer society.
Despite some hiccups, the rally showed a notable mobilization of ANC supporters. Law enforcement had to step up efforts to ensure security while allowing party merchandise sellers to do business.
In this tense electoral environment, the commitment of the ANC’s supporters remains strong despite the challenges encountered, demonstrating a certain loyalty to the ruling party.