ANC 55TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Conference re-affirms the International Relations recommendations of the 6th National Policy Conference.
Believing that:
1. The centrality of the ANC’s international relations in advancing the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) is directed by its historical mandate of the principle of the Freedom Charter that “There shall be peace and Friendship”.
2. Since its formation, the ANC’s political, economic, and ideological ethos has been progressive Internationalism, Pan-Africanism, and international and continental solidarity. Our historical mission is to contribute to the building of a better Africa and better world that is humane, just, equitable, democratic, and free.
3. The ANC moves from the premise that our international relations policy is informed by our domestic policy and vice versa. Human rights, poverty eradication, economic development, job creation, workers’ rights, and other NDR objectives are all intertwined with our pursuit of long-term regional and continental peace and development.
4. Africa and its development remain the central objective of the ANC’s international perspective and policy, with the African Renaissance remaining a key policy objective.
5. The ANC remains committed to and is an integral part of the Progressive International Revolutionary Movement to liberate humanity from the bondage of imperialism and neo-colonialism.
Reaffirming the 54th National Conference and 6th National Policy Conference:
6. In pursuit of “Progressive Internationalism in a changing world” to attain a Better Africa and a Better World, the international relations work of the ANC is anchored on the following five pillars:
- Building a Better Africa and World inclusive of peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and development
- Solidarity and Campaigns
- Party-to-Party, Intra-Party and Multilateral Relations
- Transformation of Global Governance
- Policy Development
7. The ANC International Relations sub-committee implements its programme of action, aligning its work to the above five pillars continentally and globally; strengthening party-to-party relations, peacebuilding, participating in strategic forums and leading various solidarity campaigns.
PILLAR 1:
CONTRIBUTING TO BUILDING A BETTER AFRICA AND BETTER WORLD
Building a better Africa
Recognising
8. Africa is severely impacted by the unfolding global developments. Africa is not a neutral observer or a disinterested bystander on global politics.
9. The ANC is deeply interested in the kind of global order that will safeguard our common interests and belong to the progressive family of nations and regions that seek to free themselves from neo-colonial capture and imperialist plunder.
10. The ANC seek to carve our own democratic and developmental path that puts the interests of the people and the sustainability of the planet first. As the world undergoes multiple transitions and crises, we urgently need a more inclusive, equitable and just system of global governance.
11. Africa will insist on the restructuring of multilateral institutions to safeguard equity, justice and redress as we deal with pandemics, climate change, peace and confliction resolution as well as trade and investment.
12. Progressive global forces must ensure that countries in the Global South are not marginalised, exploited or left behind. Africa will also continue to insist that the destiny of our continent is in our own hands.
Therefore resolve that:
13. African Union (AU)
a. The ANC calls that the South African Government must push that more work should be done on the important matter of ensuring that the entire institutional system of the AU works effectively in terms of ensuring the implementation of all decisions of the AU and encouraging the steady advance of the Continent towards the achievement of its strategic goals such as the entrenchment of democracy and peace as well as Africa’s renaissance and unity.
b. The ANC and the South African government must be vigilant on trade relations with major trading partners to guard against the raising of issues in alternative forums when they do not succeed in negotiations with the AU.
c. The ANC and South African government to mobilise counterparts in the continent to advance the Africa Renaissance together with AU Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a means of ensuring progress in the implementation of programmes and campaigns.
d. The South African government should ensure that the AfCFTA is not only ratified by all African countries but meaningfully implemented.
e. The South African government should ensure support and resourcing of the implementation of the AFCFTA.
f. The ANC and the South African government should champion the establishment of a local currency based African Development Fund to enhance continental self-reliance.
g. The ANC calls on the AU to strengthen the full participation of its sixth Region, the African Diaspora.
h. The ANC remains concerned about Morocco’s admission in the AU despite its continued colonisation of Western Sahara.
14. Africa must continue to strengthen its cooperation in the continuing effort to address its socio-economic challenges. It is very important that in this context, the Continent must do everything in its power to encourage and promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
15. African Credit Rating Agency
a. Noting the discussions in the African Union to establish an African Credit Rating Agency as part of efforts to ensure access to capital and to strengthen Africa’s place in the global financial architecture. The ANC-led government must support efforts aimed at the establishment of an African Credit Rating Agency.
b. The South African government must support efforts aimed at the establishment of an African Credit Rating Agency.
c. The ANC and the ANC led government must fully support the establishment of an African Credit Rating Agency as part of a lasting solution to support access to capital and to change the global financial architecture.
16. SADC
a. The ANC and the South African government should promote sufficient investment in SADC integration for the development of the region.
b. The ANC must continue to support Zimbabweans in their efforts to find holistic solutions to challenges they face and supports the AU and SADC position against unilateral sanctions.
c. The ANC supports the process to ensure that Zimbabwe returns to the Commonwealth and that sanctions imposed against it are completely eliminated. The ANC-led government and SADC should thus reinforce these efforts through practical measures ensuring a structured dialogue towards the normalization of relations with the international community.
17. Pan African Women’s Organisation (PAWO):
a. The ANCWL and the South African government should strengthen the PAWO, particularly the secretariat.
b. The ANC must ensure that the resolution on the formation of a Young Women’s structure within PAWO is expedited.
18. Pan African Youth Movement:
a. Noting that South Africa was the 15th country to ratify the African Youth Charter and supported the African Union’s Decade of Youth Development (2008-2018).
b. The ANC and the South African government must ensure the full implementation of the African Youth Charter to ensure effective youth participation in the development process, particularly given the demographics on the African continent.
Building a better World
Recognising:
19. The ongoing war in Ukraine has far-reaching strategic geopolitical and economic consequences for the peoples of the world.
20. This can no longer be described simply as a Russia-Ukraine war – it is primarily a conflict between the US and US-led NATO and Russia in pursuit of the objectives of the so-called Wolfowitz doctrine.
21. According to this doctrine, the US should not allow that any country in the world should have the possibility, in the post-Cold War period to challenge US interests, especially its hegemony. In this regard, US geopolitical strategy has identified Russia and China as the two powers that must be contained, according to the Wolfowitz doctrine which undergirds US foreign policy.
22. This is why the US provoked the war with Russia over Ukraine, hoping to put Russia it in place. The peace and “free market economy” dividends promised at the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s have been shattered. The Western imperialist dominance over Eastern Europe is being advanced not through free trade and open competition for markets, but through US-led expansionist military strategies.
23. There is a conspicuous failure of the current global institutions to resolve conflicts fairly, justly and equitably in order to safeguard the interests of all nations. The war has caused major disruptions in the global economy – the disruption of supply chains of food, fuel, fertilizer and energy, sky-rocketing inflation and the cost-of living crisis at a global scale.
24. The impacts of the tensions of the US with China and Russia, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Covid-19 pandemic, and rising narrow nationalism among other global developments has impacted South Africa and Africa.
25. The ANC has been part of the non-aligned movement. We are also part of the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial forces.
26. The ANC remains firm in its view that all conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. We totally reject gun-boat diplomacy. Coming from a continent’s structural transformation is hampered by conflicts sponsored by imperialist interests, we know from experience that war is costly and that without peace, there can be no sustainable development
Therefore resolve that:
27. The ANC and South African government should view the UN as a terrain of struggle.
28. The ANC and ANC-led should strengthen its communication on the conflict in Ukraine and other global issues to project an unambiguous position.
29. The ANC and South African government together with countries of our continent, through the AU, should maximise its contributions in the UN, guided by Progressive Internationalism.
30. The ANC and South African government remains committed in strengthening North-South Dialogue on matters of common interests.
31. The ANC and the South African government remain committed to the strengthening of SouthSouth Cooperation by contributing to the enrichment of the global south multilateralism.
32. The ANC lends its support to all democratically elected progressive governments in Latin America and equally condemn regime change attempts in these progressive countries.
33. Non-Aligned Movement
a. The ANC calls for the revitalisation and reinforcement of the Non-Aligned Movement in view of the worsening global peace and stability.
b. The ANC calls on countries of the African Union (AU) as a whole to remain non-aligned and to actively participate in the Non-Aligned Movement.
34. On Consolidation and strengthening of BRICS
Recognising that:
a. The BRICS community plays a critical role in setting global development agenda, promoting financial stability, and accounts for 17% of global trade and one-third of global GDP.
b. South Africa is the 2023 Chair of BRICS.
c. In organising the BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue, the ANC emphasised the importance of South Africa leveraging on its membership within BRICS to advance common development goals with other BRICS countries and the world, particularly the African continent.
Therefore resolves that:
d. The South African government must strengthen and enhance BRICS participation to higher levels, including mobilising South Africans.
e. The South African government should support the expansion of BRICS by admitting additional members on the basis of formally agreed criteria, principles, and values.
f. The South African government should advocate for greater synergy between the BRICS Business Council and the AfCFTA which must be addressed at the earliest opportunity.
g. The ANC must mobilise for the 2023 BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue by enhancing implementation of the 2018 resolutions and also attend to timeous preparations for the 2023 BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue.
h. The ANC must enhance its coordination with the various diplomatic tracks underway in the BRICS, including think tanks, academia, civil society, and business
35. Peacebuilding, Reconstruction and Development
Recognising that:
a. The resurgence of conflicts and military coups in some countries and regions is a serious reversal of the gains made since the establishment of the African Union twenty years ago
b. The ANC notes with concern that continental efforts at peacebuilding and to establish peace and security mechanisms have slowed down.
c. The importance of peace and human security. Silencing the guns is an urgent development imperative for our continent.
Therefore resolves:
d. The ANC calls on the government, partnering with like-minded countries, to revive the continental push on peace building and security. There can be no development without security, and no security without peace.
e. The ANC and South African government should ensure meaningful participation of Women in Peace building processes in both the global and continental institutions and architecture.
f. The ANC notes the support the South African government provided to the Ethiopian Tigray peace talks, which resulted in a globally acclaimed peace agreement. The ANC commends the efforts of the parties and mediators for this achievement. The ANC expects the SA government to continue to support this peace effort.
g. The ANC urges the South African government to recall their illustrious history and positive impact on building peace, stability, and development programmes on the African continent since the dawn of our democracy.
h. ANC calls on the South African government to increase their participation in the AU so as to meaningfully participate in the AU interventions in the various conflicts including potential conflict on our continent. Our continent, in particular the African Union, requires South Africa’s meaningful participation in the peace building interventions of the AU. There are a number of conflicts, as well as brewing conflicts simmering on our continent, across all five regions, these affects, amongst others Burkina Faso, Sudan, Mozambique, and Syria etc.
i. The synergizing between International Relations and Peace and Stability Committee challenges should not be limited to government, but also within the ANC.
j. The ANC Peace and Stability Committee and International Relations Sub-Committees must work in a synergized manner on matters of peace and security.
36. Gender and Youth Agenda
Recognising that:
a. Strengthening the women’s movement and taking forward the Gender Agenda 2030, as well as the Global Youth Agenda are strategic imperatives of all progressive forces in the 21st century.
b. The ANC welcomes the launch of the Young Women of Africa (YWOA) in 2021, which is convened by South Africa.
Therefore resolve that:
c. The progressive forces should lead national, continental and global campaigns to genuinely and effectively integrate women and the youth into the sustainable development agenda.
PILLAR 2:
CONTINENTAL, INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AND CAMPAIGNS
Recognising that:
37. The persistent oppression and exploitation of peoples in various parts of the world, the weakening of efforts for global peace and stability, the ANC should focus on and intensify international solidarity in all forms.
Therefore resolve that:
38. The ANC should formulate a clear strategy and plan on international solidarity campaigns.
39. The ANC should strengthen the ability and capability of global motive forces by, inter alia:
a. Revitalising South-South Solidarity
b. Reviewing North-South Cooperation and restructure them to resonate with our latest policies and vision for the NDR.
40. Palestine and Israel
Recognising that:
a. South Africa and Palestine share a common history of struggle. Reminded by the words of Nelson Mandela that “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians’’.
b. The ANC notes with concern the deepening dire situation in Palestine due to the brutality of the Israel apartheid state on the peoples of Palestine, and the expansion of Israeli relations with African states.
c. The ongoing expansion and growth of the Israeli and colonial-settlement and 100s of Palestinians killed, including children. Also noting the 100s of Palestinian homes that have been destroyed and displaced.
Therefore resolve that:
d. The ANC continues to pledge and intensify its solidarity with the people of Palestine for freedom, independence, justice, and equality.
e. The ANC’s solidarity campaign and engagements should be informed by regular interaction with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
f. The ANC should also engage other progressive forces in Palestine and Israel to promote unity of purpose in finding lasting resolutions to the Palestine-Israel conflict.
g. The ANC should be at the fore front of the civil society campaign in support of the Palestinian liberation by working with solidarity organizations and progressive forces domestically, regionally, and continentally.
h. The ANC reaffirms the downgrade of South Africa’s embassy in Israel.
41. Western Sahara
a. The ANC calls for the completion of the decolonization process in Africa, to protect the right to self-determination of African peoples still under colonial rule.
b. The ANC intensifies the call for the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, with a view to enable these countries and peoples, to effectively exercise sovereignty.
c. The ANC must continue to strengthen the long and traditional bonds with Polisario Front built in the common struggle against apartheid and colonialism.
d. Western Sahara faces huge challenges, and the ANC reaffirms the decision of the 54th Conference that a special envoy must be appointed. As a movement the ANC has to consider elevating the issue of Western Sahara, through humanitarian assistance, bursaries, and other material support.
e. As a movement the ANC and the South African government has to elevate the issue of Western Sahara, through encouraging humanitarian assistance, bursaries, and other material support during the ongoing occupation and aggression of Morocco.
f. The ANC supports initiatives to establish a secondary school along the lines of the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College to be called the Nelson Mandela Secondary School in Western Sahara.
42. Chagos Archipelago and Comorian Island of Mayotte
a. The ANC calls for the expeditious end to the unlawful occupation of the Chagos Archipelago, the Comorian Island of Mayotte.
43. Cuba
a. The ANC should strengthen its solidarity towards the people of Cuba and intensify its calls for the lifting of the Embargo.
b. The ANC and the South African government should intensify its calls for the lifting of the Embargo and unilateral sanctions against Cuba.
c. The ANC calls on ANC structures and the Alliance must support and encourage South Africans to intensify the humanitarian campaign in support of Cuba through donations of non-perishable foods, medicine and clothing.
d. The South African government must be found unwavering, especially when it comes to solidarity work and cooperation with CUBA.
e. The South African government must communicate South Africans unwavering support for Cuba and our cooperation agreements.
f. The South African government should enhance solidarity by increasing trade between Cuba and South Africa on a bilateral and multilateral level.
44. eSwatini
a. The ANC confirms its strong support for the people of Eswatini and calls for direct engagement with the Eswatini monarch and government leaders to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the people of Eswatini.
b. The ANC together with its alliance partners should merge our solidarity campaigns on the basis of a commonly agreed framework of action.
c. The ANC should intensify its support for programmes of progressive political and social movements in Eswatini, such as the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) among others.
45. Venezuela
a. The ANC should intensify its solidarity campaign with the Venezuelan government and its people.
b. The ANC and the South African Government should intensify its campaign for the full lifting of sanctions on Venezuela.
46. Ireland
Recognising that:
a. The Irish people’s right to self-determination and Brexit being a catalyst for constitutional change in Ireland, with successive opinion polls underpinning growing support for Irish unity.
b. The Good Friday Agreement provides the democratic means to achieve Irish unity and end partition in Ireland and the increasing numbers of Irish citizens accepting that partition has failed.
c. The international growing support for a referendum on Irish unity.
d. A new Irish constitutional democracy, equality, social justice, citizens’ rights and respect for diversity is a legitimate democratic objective.
e. The recent initiatives taken within Irish civic society and academia broadening the discussion on constitutional change in Ireland.
f. The establishment of Sinn Fein’s “Commission on the Future of Ireland” as a positive contribution to the wider conversation on Irish unity.
Therefore resolves that:
g. The ANC urges the Irish Government to convene and resource an all-island Citizens’ Assembly on Irish unity, to plan and prepare for constitutional change.
h. The ANC encourages the Irish Government to use its international diplomatic resources to secure a date for a unity referendum.
i. The ANC calls on all progressive international political and civic forces to support the process of constitutional change and the achievement of Irish unity
j. The ANC pledges to support these ends across the African continent, within the African Union and through all available multilateral institutions.
47. Unilateral Sanctions
a. The ANC supports the calls for the lifting of the punitive and cruel sanctions against Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Zimbabwe and elsewhere where such sanctions have been imposed unilaterally and unjustifiably.
48. The South African government must increase its humanitarian support to Cuba and Western Sahara.
49. The South African government must convene a solidarity conference on Palestine, Cuba, Western Sahara and Venezuela.
50. CAMPAIGNS
Recognizing that
a. The ANC established the largest social justice movement in the 20th century, the ANC noted regression in its campaign work.
Therefore resolves that:
b. The ANC needs to strengthen its work on campaigns.
c. The South African government should create broader awareness campaigns on continental matters through the promotion and observation of Africa Day, Africa Women’s Day, African Youth Day, and through the singing of the AU National Anthem in all spheres together with our national anthem.
d. The South African government should create broader awareness within the education system and the utilization of media and communications about the African Union and the broader continent.
PILLAR 3:
PARTY-TO-PARTY, INTRA-PARTY AND MULTI-PARTY
ANC 55TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS
PILLAR 4:
TRANSFORMATION OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS
51. The ANC’s international relations, with Africa at its center, must strengthen relations with like-minded parties as well as parties in power.
52. The ANC must rebuild international solidarity networks through party-to-party relations with its historical partners and build new relationships with newly formed progressive forces.
53. The ANC should strengthen party-to-party, intra-party, and multi-party relations in our continent to turn consensus into concrete action.
54. The ANC should intensify engagement with Southern African Liberation Movements (Former Liberation Movements) on party-to-party and multi-party level to ensure that common programmes are realised.
55. The ANC expresses its deepest concern about the rise of military coups and attempted coups against democratically elected governments in Africa in the recent past. The Movement reaffirms its conviction to use party-to-party relations to contribute to building a culture of democracy supported by strong institutions and a vibrant civil society.
56. The ANC needs to reactivate and strengthen its affiliation to like-minded organisations as well as proactively participate in structures of Socialist International (SI), Sao Paulo Forum, and the Nonaligned movement among others.
57. The ANC must ensure as a matter of priority that all affiliation fees to International Forums such as SI and others are up dated and kept up dated to enable active and maximum participation.
58. The ANC should guide and ensure that the ANC Youth League participates meaningfully in party-to-party relations, in IUSY, the Pan-African Youth Union, WFDY, Former Liberation Movements and other progressive international bodies.
59. The ANC should guide and ensure the ANC Women’s League participates meaningfully in party-to-party relations, Socialist International Women, Former Liberation Movements, Pan-African Women’s Organisation (PAWO), the Progressive Women’s Forum and other progressive international bodies.
60. The ANC and ANCWL should strengthen and maintain relations with progressive women’s organisations aligned to liberation movements and countries that we stand in solidarity with.
61. The South African government must advocate and actively participate in the strengthening multilateralism including reforming global governance architecture and institutions as well as meaningful participation of Women on all levels.
40. United Nations (UN)
Recognising that:
a. The changing geopolitical landscape, the ANC and South African government advocates for the realisation of urgent UN reforms.
Therefore resolve that:
b. The South African government should move toward text-based negotiations on UN Reforms.
c. The ANC must develop more concrete proposals on UN Reform, including revisions to the Ezulwini Consensus.
d. The South African government must advocate in the Human Rights Council for an end to all forms of discrimination, social rights, economic rights and environmental rights. In addition promote international solidarity.
63. International Criminal Court (ICC)
a. Noting the ANC’s previous position on the continental approach signaling countries of the continents’ withdrawal and robust engagement have positively impacted and contributed to the ICC being substantively reformed for the better.
b. Further, noting that only a few countries in our continent have ratified the Malabo Protocol, thus delaying the establishment of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights.
c. The ANC and the South African government must rescind the withdrawal from the ICC Court and intensify its lobby for the ratification of the Malabo Protocol.
64. International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
a. The ANC reaffirms its call for the reform of the IMF and the World Bank and directs the South African government to continue to advocate for its reform at every regional, continental and global multi-lateral platforms..
65. G20
a. The South African government must intensify its lobby for the African Union to be made a permanent member of the G20.
PILLAR 5:
POLICY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
66. Foreign Policy and the National Interest
a. Noting the adoption of the National Interest Framework Document and the broad definition of South Africa’s national interests.
b. The ANC and South African government must ensure that the pursuit of the national interest should not lead to sub-imperialism and dominance but should be considerate of local needs and local conditions.
c. The ANC’s characterization of the national interest should be about the advancement of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR), and be informed by the Strategy and Tactics document of the ANC. It must equally recognise that our national interest also includes our commitment to human rights and democracy and not just trade and economic interests.
d. The national interest framework should incorporate the current challenges of human trafficking and migration, worker rights in addition to human rights issues.
e. The ANC structures must engage the national interest framework document further and work towards building a greater degree of consensus on South Africa’s national interests and the values that underpin them.
f. The South African government must revise various treaties and bilateral agreements to ensure they are relevant to South Africa’s foreign policy and national interests.
g. The South African government must revisit binding treaties on amongst others private military and multi-national corporations.
h. The South African government must strengthen its economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, people-to-people relations, solidarity, and sustainable peace, amongst others.
67. Gender and International Relations
a. The ANC should incorporate the recommendations that have been made by the Gender Reference Sub-Committee – in particular, the establishment of a task team on women in foreign policy anchored in the NEC to assess and monitor gender equality and women empowerment.
b. The ANC should find a funding mechanism to better utilize our politically deployed, former Ambassadors and their experience by forming a party think-tank named ‘Jessie Duarte International Relations Academy’.
c. In 2020 the AU dedicated a decade to African Women for Financial and Economic inclusion and the ANC and South African government should develop practical programmes and fasttrack implementation.
68. Sustainable World Peace
a. The ANC calls for the peaceful resolution of conflict and calls on major powers to stop engaging in proxy wars.
b. The 55th Conference of the ANC recalled the historic bonds of solidarity and friendship between the ANC and the Chinese Communist Party and in the context of the strategic partnership between South Africa and the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC), reaffirmed the “One-China” policy and urged the South African government at all levels to continue articulating this position in all relevant international platforms. The ANC supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
c. The ANC calls for the resuscitation of the World Peace Movement and should actively engage the progressive forces to realise this.
69. Digital Diplomacy
a. The ANC and South African government should both develop policy guidelines and implementation frameworks for Digital Diplomacy to enhance existing capabilities while utilizing existing opportunities.
48. Economic Diplomacy
a. The ANC and South African government should have a constructive engagement on the possible reconfiguration of international relations to include the trade functions in government.
b. The synergizing between International Relations, Trade & Economic issues, should not be limited to government, but also within the ANC. The ANC Economic Transformation and International Relations Sub-Committees must work in a synergized manner on economic diplomacy.
c. The ANC and South African government should utilise international relations as a strategic tool for the revitalisation of the economy to:
- Assess the status quo of the role and contribution of embassies in facilitating trade and investment.
- Ensure regular diagnostics and audit on trade and investment done.
- Strengthen the activities and programmes of the trade missions in embassies.
- Expedite the formulation of policy on economic diplomacy.
71. Diplomacy at the Provincial and Municipal Level
a. The ANC and South African government must ensure that provinces and municipalities do not contradict national positions on foreign policy while building the requisite tools and capacity to enhance coordination
72. Xenophobia
a) The ANC and South African government should address Xenophobia by:
- Developing a long-term strategy for dealing with xenophobia and its root causes.
- Create public awareness of the dangers of xenophobia and the fact that it is against the character of the ANC being non-racial and non-sexist movement.
- Develop adequate intelligence measures and effective channels for the public to report incidences of xenophobia as an early warning mechanism to avoid worse incidents and flare-ups.
b. The ANC PSBC and IRC together should work towards developing a new policy framework on migration which must include the combating of xenophobia and its manifestations in respect of continental aspirations.
73. Parliamentary Diplomacy
a. The South African government should capacitate Parliamentarians deployed to global forums like the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), especially given the decision for the SADC Parliamentary Forum to be a fully-fledged Parliament.
b. The ANC calls on Parliament to promote public education in both urban and rural areas of South African foreign policy issues to create a better understanding in the public domain.
74. SADPA
a. The ANC encourages government to accelerate the establishment of the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA) to assist in the pursuit of our vision for a better Africa.
CAPACITY BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
75. The ANC-led government must strengthen the training of diplomats and public servants by infusing a progressive political orientation in the curriculum.
76. The ANC must develop and utilize current talent within the party as well as identify potential cadres for international relations work and include capacity building for the identified cadres, inclusive of learning foreign languages.
77. The ANC must empower youth, women, and people with disabilities as a key focal point.
a. The ANC and the ANC-led government should examine the calibre of the Ambassadors appointed and ensure that they understand progressive internationalism and are exemplary in character.
b. The ANC-led government should take up its leadership and staff quotas in International and Continental bodies such as the AU and UN to ensure a greater South African presence in these institutions.
78. The ANC must ensure that its deployed cadres leading the international relations functions in parliament attend and participate regularly in meetings and activities of the ANC International Relations.
BUILDING INTERNAL CAPACITY AND COORDINATION
79. Given that International Relations is a cross-cutting issue, the ANC must consider appointing the Chair of the International Relations Sub-Committee into the National Working Committee (NWC) by appointment or co-option.
80. The ANC reiterated the urgent need to implement the resolutions in Paragraph 55 on page 60 of the 54th National Conference resolutions stipulating:
a. That a full-time N.E.C. Head of International Relations be appointed urgently.
b. That the Provincial Executive appoint a focal point among members who will liaise daily with the ANC Sub-Committee and Headquarters on International Relations.
81. The ANC must develop and implement a comprehensive capacity building and training programme in international relations and protocol for IR staff and other departments that are involved in IR related work.
82. ANC must strengthen its internal capacity to enable it to build a progressive landscape with like-minded stakeholders and ensure that international relations work is not just left to government alone to execute.
83. The ANC must strengthen the coordination between the IR subcommittee, leagues, and provinces to ensure the agreed upon positions of the movement.
84. The ANC must develop a clear monitoring and evaluation framework, and strategy for the implementation of International Relations resolutions.
85. The ANC should consider supporting the MKLWV on diplomatic and international relations training.
86. The ANC International Relations should strengthen its support to MKLWV with regards to the repatriation of MK Cdes buried across the world
e.g. Angola, Cuba, Tanzania, Russia, Mozambique among others.
87. Alliance Programme on International Relations
The ANC together with the Alliance should identify the current landscape of progressive forces to engage and collaborate with in order to enhance human progress and development.
88. Establishment of ANC International branches abroad:
a. The NEC shall, through the Office of the Secretary General, authorize the establishment of international branches in countries where, after satisfying itself, there are significant numbers of ANC members.
b. A minimum of 25 members, to set up a branch, is feasible in a country.
c. Any further rules and procedures that will address the unique situation of international branches shall be the responsibility of the NEC.
Produced by the ANC Department of Information and Publicity
Issued by the African National Congress, Chief Albert Luthuli House 54 Pixley Seme Street, Johannesburg, 3 March 2023
