Cape Town’s mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has raised eyebrows with his comments regarding the African National Congress (ANC) booking Mandela Park in Khayelitsha for its 113th anniversary celebrations.
According to Hill-Lewis, the ANC was forced to choose Mandela Park due to a lack of availability at other venues, suggesting that their decision was driven more by necessity than any deep concern for the community.
ANC Explains the Choice of Mandela Park in Khayelitsha
During the Annual Progressive Business Forum (PBF) Presidential Golf Day at the Rondebosch Golf Club on January 9, ANC Western Cape chairperson Vuyiso Tyhalisisu addressed the venue choice.
He explained that the ANC selected Mandela Park in Khayelitsha as a way to reconnect with the people after experiencing a significant electoral decline in 2024.
Tyhalisisu stated that the township is one of the largest in the Western Cape, and they aimed to engage with the local communities to better understand their concerns.
He emphasized that the ANC’s choice was part of their efforts to listen to the needs of residents and address issues raised by the community.
“We chose Khayelitsha to reconnect with our people, listen to their plea, and try to resolve the issues of our communities,” Tyhalisisu said.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis Disputes ANC’s Justification
However, Hill-Lewis took to social media to dispute the ANC’s claims, asserting that their choice of Khayelitsha wasn’t motivated by a desire to engage with residents.
Instead, he accused the party of booking the venue out of incompetence.
According to Hill-Lewis, the ANC was unable to secure any other venue in time, initially attempting to book Cape Town Stadium in mid-November 2024, only to discover it was already booked for a Stormers game.
When they turned to Athlone Stadium, it was also unavailable due to the Klopse Carnival.
Hill-Lewis shared that ANC officials had even reached out to him in late November and early December, claiming that his refusal to grant them a venue was a deliberate attempt to sabotage their event.
“The last conversation I had was 5 December, and by then they still hadn’t made a booking.
So please don’t believe their nonsense,” he posted on X.
Who Do You Believe?
With both the ANC and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis presenting conflicting accounts of the venue selection for the ANC’s January 8 statement, it remains unclear whether the choice was genuinely motivated by a desire to reconnect with the people or due to logistical mishaps.