Hang out with ANC top brass

IF YOU dream of rubbing shoulders and dining with the ANC’s top brass, including newly elected president Cyril Ramaphosa and his top executive and cabinet ministers, you can do so in East London on January 12 – at a price.

The ruling party will host a presidential fundraising gala dinner, addressed by Ramaphosa, at the East London International Convention Centre.

The dinner will be held a day before the party’s 106th birthday rally, otherwise known as the January 8 statement, at the metro’s Buffalo City Stadium, but also at Jan Smuts Stadium and Buffalo Park. A crowd of 100 000 ANC supporters are expected to attend on January 13.

However, to share a table with Ramaphosa and the top six, the starting price is R250 000.

There is a platinum package where, forR250 000, a sponsor and their eight guests will sit with one of the top six ANC leaders “and another distinguished guest”.

The R200 000 gold package buys a 10-seater table, comprising eight nominated guests, with the remaining two seats allocated to an ANC minister or premier “and another distinguished guest”.

For R100 000, eight nominated guests and the sponsor get to sit with a deputy minister or an MEC.

A 10-seater table shared by eight guests and two “distinguished ANC guests” can be bought for R50 000.

But those with smaller budgets should not despair. They can attend the glitzy event at R5 000 for a single seat – though it could be at the back or in a corner.

Individuals who want to sit where a cabinet minister or deputy is seated, must fork out R10 000.

The event will be the first time that Ramaphosa will appear in the Eastern Cape since assuming the reins as party president.

Ramaphosa was elected during last month’swatershed ANC elective conference.

Ramaphosa, who is also the country’s deputy president, takes over the ruling party from President Jacob Zuma who has been at the ANC’s helm since 2007.

The deadline for table bookings at the gala dinner is January 9, with all payments to be made by the end of business on January 10.

“All bookings and sales work on a first-paid, first-served basis.

“The gala dinner will be a special and unique opportunity to meet the new ANC leadership, reflect on the policies adopted at the recent 54th ANC national conference and network with fellow South African corporate and political leaders,” states party correspondence seen by the Dispatch.

Attempts to reach ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngukayitobi and chairman Oscar Mabuyane for comment proved fruitless at the time of writing yesterday. —