KNYSNA NEWS - Deputy President Paulus Mashatile's scheduled visit to Knysna on Wednesday 8 January did not take place.

Mashatile was due to visit Knysna as part of the ANC's 8 January Build Up Mobilisation Programme marking the 113th anniversary of the ANC.

The ANC was founded on 8 January 1912.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to deliver the anniversary message, known as the January 8 Statement, at the Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on Saturday 11 January.

Wreath-laying ceremony

Mashatile was to attend a wreath-laying ceremony for late ANC leader Johnson Tatase at Knysna Cemetery at 09:00 on Wednesday.

Thando Matika, an ANC proportional representative councillor in Knysna, said he was informed on Wednesday morning that Mashatile's visit had been postponed, and that the deputy president would visit Knysna at a later date, when the wreath-laying ceremony would be carried out.

George event

Mashatile did however attend the programme event, the ANC's regional cake-cutting ceremony in Thembalethu, George, on Wednesday afternoon.

The George ceremony was also attended by Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa, the ANC regional chairman.

Many other ANC leaders were scheduled to attend mobilisation programme events in the Western Cape on Wednesday, including Ramaphosa, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe, and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.

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