By: Abigail Visagie
The African National Congress’s (ANC) decision to host its January 8 celebrations in the dusty streets of Moruleng village in the North West province thrust the area into the national spotlight — delivering a short-term economic boost for both formal and informal traders. The influx of party leadership, delegates and supporters injected fresh spending into the local economy, driving demand for accommodation, transport and food. Small businesses, in particular, benefited as visitors opened their wallets during the weekend-long celebrations. However, the strategy of using major political events to stimulate local economic recovery drew mixed reactions. While some residents welcomed the activity, others criticised the ANC for staging the event in the rural village of Moruleng, where the stadium — built to accommodate 20 000 people — failed to reach full capacity. Despite what some interpreted as a muted show of political support, business was brisk for many traders. Up-and-coming Rustenburg-based entrepreneur Tshepamo Mmusi secured her first-ever catering gig at the ANC’s 114th anniversary celebrations and exceeded her projected earnings. Mmusi, who launched her catering company last year, said she had struggled to gain entry onto the Central Supplier Database (CSD). Once approved, her business, K&T Consultant, landed a catering contract for the event. “Although I faced a few challenges, I made more revenue than I had anticipated. It was a valuable learning experience, and overall I truly enjoyed it,” said Mmusi. She added that income from selling hot dogs, cold drinks and confectionery items would help sustain her business through January’s typically slow trading period. Entrepreneur Sithembiso Mthethwa travelled from Gauteng in hopes of tapping into the festive crowds. “Locals were initially hostile, especially since I’m not from the North West,” Mthethwa said. Undeterred, he set up his stall in the early hours of the morning — a move that paid off. Mthethwa, who owns Sassy Food Pro in Gauteng, said food entrepreneurship was more than just business. “When something is your passion, you naturally work smarter and harder,” he said. “I exceeded my income expectations and really enjoyed learning more about the North West and its local economy.” Not all experiences were positive. A local chef from Moruleng expressed frustration after spending nearly R3 000 on compliance and acceptance certificates, only to struggle to trade on the day. “I arrived early with an official vendor access ticket, but I couldn’t even park my car or trailer at the selling point,” she said. “I was told the area was already full, and I had to leave some of my equipment behind.” The chef said she earned just R300, far below expectations, and felt sidelined as vendors from other provinces were allowed to operate with fewer hurdles. “I urge the ANC to stop being disorganised and honour its promises. If compliance certificates are required, they must be properly enforced — some of us spent our children’s school fees hoping to make a decent return,” she said. While the celebrations brought cash into Moruleng, they also raised difficult questions about fairness, planning and who truly benefits when politics comes to town.
