ON January 13 this year, thousands of ANC faithful will gather at the Mbombela Stadium to celebrate the party’s 112th anniversary. Beyond the usual razzmatazz that attends such events, all eyes and ears will be on the party’s national president, Cyril Ramaphosa, as he delivers its January 8 statement. The annual event and the statement set the tone for the party’s political agenda.
The delivery of the January 8 Statement was conceived during the ANC’s years in exile. The statement was a connecting rod for its members, who were scattered across almost every corner of the globe. In doing so, the statement created a sense of community. It also provided an appraisal of the Struggle against apartheid colonialism. Members were provided with a review of the state
