The ANC was hit with public scorn on Thursday night when the hashtag #DontfillupOrlando trended on Twitter.
The subject appeared to have gained traction after EFF leader Julius Malema tweeted on Thursday: "If you are young and find yourself at Orlando Stadium on Sunday, then you are a traitor, the unemployed and the poor in Soweto must stay at home."
The ruling party would hold its 105th anniversary celebrations at Orlando Stadium in Soweto this weekend. President Jacob Zuma would deliver what was expected to be his last January 8 statement. The ANC was expected to elect new leaders at its national conference in December.
Twitter users attacked the party for the country's high unemployment rate, poor infrastructure at schools, its relationship with the controversial Gupta family, the 783 corruption charges looming over Zuma, and the taxpayer money used to upgrade his Nkandla homestead.
READ: You are a traitor if you go to ANC birthday celebrations - Malema
Here are some of the tweets:
Others hit out at the party for refusing to back down on calls to scrap Gauteng's controversial e-toll system and over the continued arrest of student activist Bongikosi Dlamini who was arrested during the Fees Must Fall protests.
Earlier, ANC Secretary general Gwede Mantashe told journalists outside the NEC meeting at Irene that they hoped to fill up the 40 000 seater stadium.
In April last year, the party was left red-faced when it failed to fill Nelson Mandela Bay stadium for its local government election manifesto announcement. -- News24Wire