The ANC’s 103rd anniversary celebrations in Cape Town were a success, the ANC in the Western Cape said on Sunday.

“The ANC Western Cape congratulates and thanks all supporters and people of Cape Town who assisted to make the ANC’s 103rd anniversary the memorable success it is,” the party said in a statement.

“Tens of thousands of people, including leaders from all provinces, attended the biggest political rally in the history of the Cape Town stadium to hear the ANC NEC’s traditional visionary statement for the year ahead.”

On Saturday, President Jacob Zuma listed energy, land, local governance and combating corruption as top priorities for the year ahead as he vowed to take the ruling party back to basics at the celebrations.

Addressing some 40,000 African National Congress supporters in the Cape Town stadium, Zuma said: “Let us rededicate ourselves to the core values of the ANC, that of self-discipline and service to the people.

“Let us root out those members and representatives who are corrupt, factional and undermine the unity and cohesion of this great movement.”

The ANC should recommit itself to the principles of the Freedom Charter, it adopted 60 years ago.

He continued and reminded the rally that the preamble of the historic text says the government cannot claim legitimacy unless it is based on “the will of all people”.

ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman said: “The ANC has a good story to tell. The event concluded without any major incident reported and the local hospitality industry booms with a massive economic injection.

“All establishments and restaurants were packed during the past days. Areas like the CBD, Sea Point and Waterfront where overflowing with celebratory ANC people. They painted Cape Town yellow… ANC yellow.”

He said the Western Cape thanked Zuma and the national executive committee (NEC) for bringing the celebrations to the province.

“The ANC rotates the annual celebrations to all corners of our country and this year was our turn,” Fransman said.

He said the ruling party condemned the Democratic Alliance’s “apartheid style” actions to institute influx control where taxis were stopped, and putting up blockades to prevent ANC supporters from reaching the stadium. SAPA