PORT ELIZABETH - WHY DID THE ANC RALLY FAIL TO FILL THE NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM?

The ANC is fuming over the failure of its Eastern Cape leadership to fill the 45000-seater Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

The governing party's head of policy Jeff Radebe said they were disappointed by the attendance of the party's election manifesto launch after the provincial leadership had initially assured the top brass that more than 100000 members would attend.

President Jacob Zuma was supposed to have started speaking at 11am but proceedings were delayed because the stadium was still half empty.

Since Zuma became ANC president in 2007, the party's events have become popular to the point that there would be an overflow. This time around, however, there were many empty seats in the main stands and the overflow stadium was empty.

"An investigation is underway to understand what happened. It is disappointing and unacceptable what happened," Radebe said. "We were assured that 100 000 people were going to attend but that was not the case."

Eastern Cape ANC secretary Oscar Mabuyane yesterday admitted that they failed to live up to expectations on the day.

Even though regions such as Dr WB Rubusana in Buffalo City managed to bus in 3250 supporters, Mabuyane said they experienced serious setbacks in areas such as Sarah Baartman, Nelson Mandela and Port St Johns where bus drivers demanded a 50% up-front payment due to the ANC not paying them previously.

"It was a logistical nightmare to make such payments a day before the rally, as a result our members and supporters were stranded for hours across regions," Mabuyane said.

Some members got up to mischief. "We have records of ANC members using their visit to PE to go and swim and enjoy themselves by the beach..."

Radebe said they did receive a brief of transport delays in areas such as Uitenhage and Motherwell.

He said: "We are meeting tomorrow (today), we need to get the facts and people should account."

The Eastern Cape failed to mobilise for the rally despite getting help from other provinces.

North West ANC chairman Supra Mahumapelo said his province had 3000 members in attendance.

The Free State province is said to have bused in 6000 members, KwaZulu-Natal 5000 and Gauteng 4000 members attending the manifesto launch.

An Eastern Cape PEC member said: "We found ourselves having to bus people who were less interested to listen to what the president had to say."

ANC manifesto in brief

Expand the electrification programme to the remaining areas and roll out solar energy in certain areas;

Discourage municipalities from outsourcing the basic services they are able to do;

Upscaling cooperatives to mainstream economic development;

Provide residents with information about programmes on sustainable argriculture and rural development;

Prevent municipal officials and councillors from doing business with municipalities;

Ensure there are consequences for illegal decisions taken by municipal councils; and

Deliver basic services in a more efficient and effective manner.

VIA - sowetanlive.co.za