Weather Turns On ANC Again with Flooding During 105th Birthday Weekend
It looks like the weather may rain on the ANC’s parade again this weekend as the governing party celebrate its 105th birthday. Last year rain poured down during the 104 birthday celebrations, and just last month strong winds forced the ANC’s Reconciliation Day celebrations to be called off, as the North West venue’s tent was raised […]
It looks like the weather may rain on the ANC’s parade again this weekend as the governing party celebrate its 105th birthday.
Last year rain poured down during the 104 birthday celebrations, and just last month strong winds forced the ANC’s Reconciliation Day celebrations to be called off, as the North West venue’s tent was raised off the ground and President Jacob Zuma had to run for cover.
Today SA Weather Service has issued a “warning for HEAVY RAIN with possible FLASH FLOODING across Gauteng on Saturday.” The rain is expected to continue into Sunday, when the ANC had planned to fill Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Gauteng. On Saturday afternoon it was already raining heavily in Soweto.
Celebrations are scheduled to begin at 07h00 with President Zuma due to deliver his annual Statement summarising 2016 and revealing the ANC’s vision for 2017.
The ANC tweeted: “Let us get together at the Orlando Stadium to celebrate 100 years of President Oliver Tambo.” Tambo – who was born on 27 October, 1917 – was the longest ever serving president of the ANC (from 1969 to 1991) and dedicated his adult life to serving in the struggle against apartheid.
This year’s birthday celebrations are being held under the theme “Unity in Action”. The ANC has called on people to “come out in their numbers”.
As storm clouds gathered and reports of floods in Gauteng came in, Twitter has been ‘flooded’ with jokes about the weather and the ANC. Some said the rain is a sign of ancestors like Tambo and former President Nelson Mandela crying over the current leadership.
Motorists headed to ANC celebrations (and returning from holidays) are urged to drive cautiously. Already there have been 33 car accidents reports today in Joburg related to the heavy rainfall.
https://twitter.com/BuaFela/status/817700676348375040
Flooding reported in Reg G, teams on standby ^TK pic.twitter.com/GYxRsqquEx
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/BuaFela/status/817693336496644096
https://twitter.com/Sentletse/status/817640993587601408
https://twitter.com/BuaFela/status/817701237458161665
Some Twitter users called on Zuma to be more like Tanzanian President John Magafuli who cancelled party celebrations to rather spend the money on hospital bills. This alleged ANC alcohol bill is currently going viral:
https://twitter.com/xboxoverher/status/817716279536656385
Pity the ANC can't send the SAPS to stop the rain like they did with #FeesmustFall and #Marikana #ANC105
— Xoli (@R_xoli) January 7, 2017
Rain or no rain, tomorrow 8 Jan we are filling up Orlando stadium #MayihlomeBrigade #WeAreANC #ANC105 #UnityInAction pic.twitter.com/RXqQ2akiff
— 马利国 Comrade Bae 😊🇿🇦🇨🇳🇷🇺 (@MajavuThabiso) January 7, 2017
President Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa serve birthday cake to the elders yesterday
#ANCPresident Zuma and #ANCDeputyPresident cde Cyril Ramaphosa serve #ANC105 cake to the elders #UnityInAction #WeAreANC pic.twitter.com/VTwHUiKyMo
— African National Congress (@MYANC) January 6, 2017