ANC Veterans League holds successful conference

31 July 2023

Over the weekend of 28 – 30 July, 467 delegates attending theThird National Conference of the ANC Veteran’s League (ANCVL in Ekurhuleni under the theme: “Renewal of the ANC to advance the National Democratic Revolution” successfully voted in a new leadership and passed resolutions setting out the line of march for the next five years

Cde Snuki Zikalala was re-elected president, Cde Mavuso Msimang was elected deputy president, Cde Ilva MacKay-Langa was elected secretary general, Cde Connie September was elected deputy secretary General, Cde Fazel Randera was elected treasurer general

The list of additional NEC members is attached below

Zakes Tolo

Joel Netshitendze

Johnny de Lange

Lisa Seftel

Baby Tyawa

James Ngculu

Sheila Sisulu

Sue Rabkin

Reverend Chikane

Phila Nkayi

Eunice Kekana

Playfair Morule

Jennifer Lichabe

Rebone Mosholi

Monica Mnguni

Malose Stan Motimele

Magdelina Lewele

Nora Fakude

Ben Mthembu

Dipuo Peters

Kenneth Khumalo

Tshidi Mangwathe

Rachel Rasmeni

Dr Trish Hanekom

Fumanekile Gqiba

Maggie Govender

Eleanor Khanyile

The Conference received the following reports:

The Convenor’s Political Report

The Coordinator’s Report on the work of the National Task Team

Policy discussion document

Renewal discussion document

Discussion document on Organising, Campaigns and Membership

Policy Framework on Coalitions

Discussion document on Money Politics and Revolutionary Morality

These discussion documents formed a very strong basis for the Conference to focus on how the ANC Veterans League can contribute to effective policies and concrete programmes that will decisively push forward the fundamental renewal of the ANC to improve the quality of life and well-being of the people of South Africa.

The resolutions passed by the Conference focused on building the Veteran’s League, the renewal of the ANC, and addressing issues of poor service delivery and the current crisis of load shedding. Several concrete and implementable proposals were made in respect of renewing the ANC including tightening membership criteria and strengthening the disciplinary structures and Integrity Commission.

We also discussed the problem of instability and dysfunctionality in hung councils and local government coalitions which seriously impact service delivery.

The Conference welcomed the Framework approved by the ANC NEC and the nine principles contained within it. They thus expressed their disappointment that some of the coalitions in which the ANC is involved are not informed by the Framework adopted by the NEC of the ANC and this is discrediting the movement in the eyes of ordinary people.

The Conference called for the ANC to immediately review our participation in coalition arrangements that are costly for the ANC and are not consistent with the Framework adopted by the NEC. Conference reasserted the need for an outright victory for the ANC in the 2024 elections. We cannot invest our energy in coalition politics. Coalitions don’t work for the people!

The veterans from all walks of life, and all parts of the country who have been involved in exile, armed struggle, mass mobilisation, trade unions and faith-based organisations committed to working tirelessly to both build ANC structures and impact on problems facing their communities and the country.

Time and again delegates called on the ANC to be a disciplined and coherent organization which is free from corruption, factionalism and political violence. They committed themselves to be a “resource for the organisation”, especially in terms of cadre development and political education.

The new NEC of the VL will soon gather to put in place our internal structures and develop a programme of action for the next five years to implement the resolutions of the Conference.

Issued by the ANC Veterans League, 31 July 2023