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COUNTRYWIDE ANC SUPPORTERS HEADING TO KIMBERLEY

Picture By Reuters
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Thousands of ANC supporters from all over the country are heading to Kimberley in January 2019 for the party’s 107th anniversary. The ANC’s provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga confirmed in a media statement that Kimberley will be the hosting city.

“The ANC in the Northern Cape will host the January 8 celebrations in 2019. The last time the Northern Cape hosted the celebrations was in 2010 during the ANC 98th celebrations. The celebrations will take place in Kimberley and more information will follow as the logistical arrangements kick-start,” stated Ngxanga.

The 107th anniversary in the diamond city will be second celebration for ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa in the party’s uppermost position and it comes with the comfort of the jamboree set to be held in the capital city of a province that fired the opening salvo of endorsement for his party presidential bid.

Sharp focus will be on the tone of Ramaphosa’s speech in Kimberley. He will be expected to call the party’s volunteers to action in the run-up to what will be a bruising 2019 national elections and flag a string of issues such as the economy and service delivery amongst others.

“The speech of the President will most likely be centred around how united the ANC is in spite of the internal contestation. His message will most likely also emphasise how the new leadership has managed to give adequate due diligence by fighting corruption in State-Owned Enterprises and state departments,” opined political analyst Sethulego Matebesi in a text message to NCNN.LIVE.

Ramaphosa’s speech is also set to be peppered with the extolling the Northern Cape for its freedom struggle contribution through the selfless acts of many of its sons and daughters and highlight the party’s posture in the international affairs arena. Also to be added in accordance with tradition, he will pay tribute to fallen heroes that departed between the last anniversary and one being celebrated.

The ANC is expected to assemble several teams dealing with logistics, mobilisation, transport, catering, media and other areas of speciality. The planning usually results into close liaison between the party in the province and personnel at its Chief Albert Luthuli House head office.

On the business front; Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) president Marie Parsons welcomed the announcement with words of caution. “This will be a positive for Kimberley. There is also a lot of accommodation in and around Kimberley. We encourage bookings to be done in advance for proper preparations to be made,” she stated thoughtfully.

The Northern Cape chapter of the Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF) also embraced the announcement. “The Gross Domestic Product of the Northern Cape will benefit from this highly prestigious event. All professionals, business people and progressive organisations must unite and work together in preparing for this event,” stated PPF-NC spokesperson Zoe Bula.

Picture By Reuters; ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy David Mabuza
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Thabo Mothibi is a former broadcast journalist (TV and Radio) – with specialist reporting experience; SABC Political/Parliamentary and TRC Teams over a period of five years (1995 to 2000).

One key foreign assignment - is the 11-nation African Connection Rally – overland journey from Africa’s northern-most pole in the coastal Tunisian city of Bizerte to the southern-most pole in South Africa’s Cape Agulhas. From the journalistic years, Thabo then delved into Government media liaison and serving two former Ministers and three MECs. He became the Northern Cape Provincial Government’s first department based Communications Director at Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development - 2008-2010 – where he also served as Head of Ministry from 2003 – 2008.

As a former anti-apartheid activist, his political background and professional training aided him in spearheading the Northern Cape ANC’s 2004 National Elections media and publicity campaign and that of the 2006 Local Government Elections.

Whilst based in Waterkloof in Pretoria -2010 to end 2011, he consulted for Manstrat Agricultural Intelligence, then returned to the Northern Cape in 2012 to date, to consult independently and pursue other entrepreneurial interests in media and communications through KwaVuko Communications and Marketing.

Thabo Mothibi obtained his NQF7 through Wits University’s Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) in Johannesburg, a Unilever Mandela Rhodes Academy for Marketing and Communications Academy (UMRA). The goal of the NQF7 programme was to educate and train public and private sector professional communicators and marketers in government communications..