Picture: The ANC logo
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
27 October 2024- The ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa said they have reached the conclusion of an important and constructive meeting of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC). Ramaphosa said the meeting focused on issues of renewal of the ANC and how they should promote integrity and ethical conduct in the ranks of the ANC.
He further said the NEC adopted a comprehensive programme of renewal and rebuilding of the organisation that will be rolled out over the next eighteen months. Ramaphosa added that, at the centre of renewal, is to return their organisation to its historical mission of service to the people and their collective quest to build a better life for all South Africans.
“Therefore, the NEC has resolved that we will focus our branches, our public representatives and our leadership at local, regional, provincial and national level on the immediate tasks of the National Democratic Revolution as set out in our manifesto.
“Accordingly, we must continue the transformation of our country to create work and opportunity, to end poverty and hunger, and to ensure that all South Africans, men, women and children are able to live in peace and safety,” he said.
Ramaphosa said they are implementing jobs and plan to put more South Africans to work. He said they are building the industries, developing infrastructure and investing in an inclusive economy.
“We are taking a number of steps to tackle the high cost of living, investing in our people and improving the provision of affordable water and electricity. We are working to defend democracy and advance the freedom we fought for, and continue to build a better Africa and a better world.
“The NEC’s deliberations on rebuilding our organisation culminated in a practical roadmap to rebuild the organisation from the ground up so that we have branches with active members and quality of cadreship to advance the tasks of our revolution,” said Ramaphosa.
He said they have always said the strength of the ANC lies in its footprint in every ward throughout the length and breadth of the country. Ramaphosa said this is borne out by the fact that despite their electoral setback in 2024, the ANC still commands an outright majority in over 14 000 of the 23 000 voting districts in the country.
“We decided that our renewal programme focus on rebuilding branches to become vibrant and activist branches, with clear programmes of action that address the tasks of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).
“In doing this, we are guided by the words of Amilcar Cabral, who famously asserted in 1965 that: “We must always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.”
He said this in his well-known treatise: “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories”. Ramaphosa said accordingly, the NEC resolved that the programme to build ANC branches must ground them in the everyday struggles of ordinary South Africans to overcome poverty and inequality and create inclusive local economic development and jobs in communities.
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