How jazz in Cape Town and ANC NEC meetings just seem to go together

Political reporter Andisiwe Makinana hit the nail on the head on Thursday when she tweeted her recognition of the tradition the ANC has of “coincidentally” always being in Cape Town for a national executive committee (NEC) meeting over the same weekend as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Both events are happening this weekend in the water-starved Mother City.

The ANC NEC will meet in Cape Town this weekend, which also happens to be the weekend of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

This is an annual coincidence.

— Scapegoat (@AndiMakinana) March 22, 2018

You know it’s jazz festival weekend when ANC NEC holds its meeting at the Fire & Ice.

— Babalo (@BabaloNdenze) March 22, 2018

In 2014, Western Cape premier Helen Zille complained that the ANC’s presence in the city in the lead-up to elections that year was an abuse of taxpayers’ money.

The ANC held its NEC in CTown so that they could all go to the Jazz Festival. Then they went campaigning. Another abuse of taxpayers money!

— Helen Zille (@helenzille) March 30, 2014

.@mbindwane Not coincidence but deliberate timing of NEC meeting with Cape Town Jazz Festival.ANC big wigs often seen in the network lounge.

— Hanief Haider (@haniefhaider) March 27, 2014

The same thing happened again in 2015.

Happy coincidence : ANC NEC meeting in Cape Town in perfect time for jazz. Time they face the music?

— Russell Grinker (@grinker1) March 28, 2015

It was a busy day yesterday. Breakfast meeting, airport & #ANC NEC meeting happening @UCTGSB & Jazz #CTIJF pic.twitter.com/RCKMYC5pn1

— Pamela Court (@PamelaCourt60) March 28, 2015

I just love how the ANC NEC Meeting for March doesn't compromise on its Cape Town Jazz venue each year. he he hehe heeeee.

— Bo Mbindwane (@mbindwane) March 27, 2015

It seems to be such a tradition now that Twitter was wondering why it apparently didn’t happen in 2016.

It's the Cape Town Jazz Festival this weekend – how come no ANC NEC meeting? I thought that was automatic.

— Mike Davies (@AfricaAnalyst) April 1, 2016

In between all the music, the NEC meeting is likely to get heated this weekend, with the Mail & Guardian reporting that President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to face strong resistance to a plan to place regional and provincial conferences on hold until after next year’s elections.