Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has been dragged on social media by users who have argued that the ANC should not celebrate its birthday amid corruption allegations involving comrades.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will virtually deliver the party’s statement in celebration of its 109th birthday on Friday night at 7pm.
ANC head of organising Nomvula Mokonyane said the statement would focus on the Covid-19 pandemic, gender-based violence (GBV) and government’s plan on the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, among other issues.
ALSO READ: ANC’s January 8 statement to focus on GBV, Covid-19
Mbalula is among those who have taken to social media to share a celebratory message.
But South Africans were quick to remind him of the ruling party’s failures.
ALSO READ: ANCYL crisis committee wants Ramaphosa to prioritise youth in January 8 statement
The ruling party has been plagued by corruption so much that Ramaphosa, in a statement in August last year, said it stood as “as Accused No. 1″.
The consequent anger of the general public towards the ruling party’s conduct was “understandable and justified”, he said, adding it “is an unforgivable betrayal”, that exacerbated the country’s existing hunger and unemployment issues.
Last year, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) picked up on at least 17 dubious tenders in which “politically exposed persons” were involved. These tenders were valued at R1.2 billion.
READ MORE: Sars finds 17 PPE tenders of R1.2bn involving ‘politically exposed persons’
Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.