Preparations for the African National Congress (ANC)’s Mandela Legacy Rally at Makwarela Stadium on Saturday, July 25, have sparked political controversy after homeless people who had been staying there were temporarily relocated to make way for the event.
The ANC rally is being held on the same day that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) celebrate the party’s 13th anniversary at the nearby Thohoyandou Stadium, with both events expected to attract thousands of supporters.
The EFF eaelier this week accused the ANC of deliberately scheduling its rally in the same area to sabotage its anniversary celebrations. According to the red berets, the ANC intended to divide supporters, create logistical challenges and overshadow one of the party’s most significant annual events.
The ANC has rejected those allegations, insisting that every political party has the constitutional right to hold public gatherings after obtaining the necessary approvals. The governing party said its rally forms part of its ongoing programme of engaging communities and was not organised to undermine the EFF’s celebrations.
The relocation of the about 14 families who were moved to the stadium for a temporarily shelter after they were evicted from their original residential area also drawn public attention.
This after their homes at Muledani Village Extension were demolished by the Thulamela Local Municipality, citing that they illegally occupied the land.
The affected residents maintain that they had legally occupied the land after being allocated residential sites by the local traditional leader also known as Vuthobela, who had also issued them with Permission to Occupy (PTO) letters. They argue that the demolition left them without shelter, leaving them with nothing as they were not even given an opportunity to move their goods when their houses were demolished.
As preparations for the ANC rally gathered pace, the homeless residents were moved from Makwarela Stadium, where they had been temporarily accommodated, to another temporary site arranged by the municipality to allow the stadium to host the political gathering.
The relocation has reignited debate over the treatment of displaced residents and the municipality’s handling of the Muledani Village Extension dispute. Community members and civil society organisations have called for a lasting solution to the housing crisis, arguing that temporary relocations do not address the plight of families who lost their homes.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened across Thohoyandou as thousands of ANC and EFF supporters converge on the area for the two high-profile political events.
While the ANC and EFF continue to exchange accusations over the timing of their gatherings, the controversy surrounding the displaced residents has added another layer to an already politically charged day in the Vhembe District.