By BAKANG MOKOTO
27 June 2025- The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC Veteran’s League said it met on 26 and 27 June 2025, marking the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter. According to the ANCVL, the meeting remembered the unique place the Freedom Charter has played in the evolution of democracy and the progressive values in the constitution.
The ANCVL president, Snuki Zikalala said almost two years after the league’s national conference, their membership has grown by nearly 50%, with their current verified membership standing at 3440 members with a further 2300 pending. Zikalala said they have members providing guidance and working with structures of the ANC at all levels and throughout the country.
“The ANCVL’s NEC welcomed Khunjuzwa Kekana to the position of Deputy Secretary General, which was vacant. Kekana is a former Executive Mayor of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. She served in this role for over 20 years with an impeccable track record.
“She is well-positioned to join the office bearers in fulfilling their responsibilities, especially in addressing local government issues and the problems of our people. The NEC also agreed to the co-option of Sisa Njikelana as an additional member of the NEC,” he said.
Zikalala further said his long history of involvement in the trade union movement will be an important asset as the Veterans’ League seeks to play a role in forging greater trade union unity. He added that Njikelana will play a role in their planned engagement with the labour movement with a view to uniting all progressive forces.
“The meeting deliberated on key issues arising out of its priorities of organising the Veterans’ League, supporting ANC renewal and improving service delivery. The meeting deliberated on the challenges facing municipalities, particularly in terms of service delivery.
“There was a recognition that while the problems facing municipalities are multifaceted, more can be done, especially in respect of being responsive to the needs of communities on basic issues such as access to water, electricity, clean environments and community safety,” said Zikalala.
He said Veterans’ League members will engage with and where possible, participate in interventions to support local governments, particularly those that are struggling. Zikalala said Veterans’ League NEC members are also active in driving the process in the ANC’s Local Government Intervention Task Team, to make progress in localities of greatest need.
“Areas of work for the Veterans’ League include addressing the lack of responsiveness from officials and initiating proactive action in response to allegations of poor performance, lack of accountability and unethical practices.
“Also important is to support councillors and for veterans throughout the country to be active in ward committees and in community-based and civil society organisations seeking to address community needs,” he said.
Zikalala said the ANC Veterans League has been active in developing a strategy to prepare for local government elections, which has been incorporated into the ANC election strategy. He said the phased campaign involves reconnecting with the people, demonstrating their capacity to attend to community concerns and then transitioning to the actual election campaign.
“Attention will be placed on the process of candidate selection, ensuring that candidates are comrades who have demonstrated their leadership qualities, including responsiveness to community aspirations in their localities, and in the ANC.
“Skilled and competent leaders must populate the councils after these elections to continue the local government turnaround. Efforts should be made to ensure that younger leaders, who can initiate robust and imaginative campaigns, take over the baton to play a leading role,” said Zikalala.
He said the meeting deliberated on the extent to which corruption is blight on the society and a constraint to the renewal of the ANC. Zikalala said the NEC welcomed the actions taken by the Gauteng Provincial Government, led by Panyaza Lesufi, to initiate lifestyle audits and take decisive action against those who fell afoul of ethical criteria.
“The meeting also noted various actions taken by law enforcement agencies to deal with corruption and other crimes, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The meeting agreed to further develop a well-informed understanding of corrupt tendencies and practices within society, so that the ANC can play a leading role in combating this scourge.
“The ANCVL will continue to ensure that ANC members implicated in corruption are subject to the policies and processes established by the ANC for such instances. In addition to formal institutions within the state, the VL has initiated a process that will provide an internal platform for those who want to report corruption to do so and to be protected,” he said.
Zikalala said the meeting expressed deep concern about the SACP’s decision to contest elections as a political party in its own right. He said the meeting recognised the strong historical bonds between the ANC, SACP and COSATU and how debilitating it would be to try and disentangle this relationship.
“Without the SACP that works closely with the other alliance partners, the character of the liberation movement would change to the detriment of both the ANC and the SACP, especially in areas where the SACP has made important contributions such as matters of social transformation and political education.
“The Veterans’ League NEC is of the firm conviction that any misunderstanding on both strategic and tactical matters can and should be addressed differently, and in the interests of the unity of progressive forces in the forthcoming local government and subsequent elections,” said Zikalala.
He said several unintended consequences of this decision were raised, including how to address members of the ANC who currently hold dual membership with the SACP as well as leaders of the SACP who have been deployed in the ANC as legislators and in executive roles. Zikalala said a further challenge is the likelihood of this move increasing divisions within organised labour and COSATU in particular.
“The meeting agreed to engage directly with the SACP in addition to proposing that the ANC NEC fast-track discussions with the SACP to determine a way forward with due regard to the history of the relationship in the tripartite alliance and the need to strengthen the progressive movement in this profoundly uncertain domestic and global environment.
“The Veterans’ League was instrumental in conceptualising and drafting the Foundation Course, and veterans have been at the forefront of participating in the rollout of this political education course. 600 members of the Veterans’ League have now completed the Foundation Course,” he said.
The Guardian 