Political Overview by ANC Gauteng Chairperson, Cde Paul Mashatile, at the Provincial General Council, Irene,
13 May 2016
Programme Director, Cde David Makhura
President of the ANC, Cde Jacob Zuma
PEC Members here present
NEC Deployees here present
Veterans of our struggle here present
REC Members here present
Leadership of the Alliance here present
Leadership of the Leagues – Veterans’ League, Women’s League and Youth League here present
Delegates from Zones and Branches
Members of the Media
Comrades and Compatriots
Allow me to express, on behalf of the leadership and the membership of the ANC in Gauteng, our gratitude to our President for having made time, given his busy and taxing schedule, to be with us today so as to share some thoughts regarding the challenges facing our movement and our country. Cde President, we are honoured by your presence.
We appreciate your being here, as this will provide you with an opportunity to better comprehend the issues we face on a daily basis in Gauteng. Your attendance is also important because when we in Gauteng pronounce on some issues, we are wrongly perceived as being “anti-Zuma”.
As the leadership of the ANC in Gauteng we would like to be categorical that we are not against the ANC President but we always deal with issues on the basis of principle. For that matter, we discuss issues openly and without fear or favour and when difficult matters come to the fore, we do not bury our heads in the sand. Instead, we confront them head on. This constitutes the distinguishing features of ourprovince!
Cde Delegates, we are particularly pleased in Gauteng that the Extended National Working Committee (NWC) meeting has allowed all our structures and civil society to discuss difficult issues facing our movement including the recent Constitutional Court judgement of 31 March 2016.
I want to particularly commend the PEC and our branches in the manner in which they handled this matter. The PEC accepted the apology of the President but went further to say that the President must reflect on this matter and do the right thing. However, the PEC has also allowed branches to discuss this matter and express their own views. During the course of this PGC delegates will have an opportunity once more to express their views so that we can bring this matter to finality, once and for all. This will also ensure that our members do not rely on what is said in the media.
Our strength in Gauteng is that we always discuss matters in a frank and open manner. We confront difficult issues without fear or favour. We have no hidden agendas in Gauteng!
We are guided, at all times, by the commitment to serve our people. I therefore urge you, comrade delegates, that we spend this weekend focusing on what we have done right, as well as the problems and challenges that our people are facing rather than waste time dealing with our internal squabbles.
In the 22 years of our democracy we have achieved a lot in terms of access to services that were denied to the majority of our people. Many of our people out there still do not have access to electricity, clean water, sanitation and decent shelter. There are many in our communities who are looking for decent jobs, particularly young people. We have done a lot to alleviate the plight of all our people.
Although we have built many clinics and hospitals, we do however acknowledge that much more still needs to be done. All our children must have access to quality education and acquire proper skills. It is unacceptable that they have to endure their schools and other services burnt to the ground by anarchist forces.
Together we are building new post-apartheid cities that will bring economic and other opportunities closer to where our people live. Hence, we will not allow a situation where the ANC is dislodged from the leadership of municipalities in Gauteng. Through our Ntirhisano programme, we continue to remain in touch with our people, listen to their concerns and respond accordingly.
The slow growth of our economy remains a worrying challenge as it impacts on the quality of our people’s lives. In Gauteng, our Transformation, Modernization and Reindustrialion (TMR) programme is on course and we are accelerating social infrastructure investment to stimulate economic growth.
Every effort should be taken to shore up our economy hence we commend the efforts of the national government in partnership with labourand business in taking steps to stimulate economic growth. It is a collective and collaborative effort that will ensure our success, and the decision by Moodys not to further downgrade our country is warmly welcomed as a result of working together.
The Gauteng Provincial Government is very strong, and is working with municipalities to change the lives of our people for the better and our municipalities are also doing very well. We take this opportunity to congratulate the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Parks Tau and his team in receiving an upgrade from Moody's Investors Service, both the Global Scale Ratings and National Scale Ratings of the City of Joburg. This follows their recent upgrade by Fitch Ratings Agency.
These are issues we must focus on this weekend. Let our people know wherever they are that we care about them. Let them know that we listen and respond when they cry out for help. We take great pride in that the ANC government continues to grow the black middle class through our aggressive interventions to ensure equality. Let us continue to find solutions to the problems of e-tolls since our people continue to complain about affordability.
It is also important that our people know that the ANC respects the Constitution and all other laws of the Republic. Let us remind our people that we are the crafters of this Democratic Constitution and that we and not the opposition will defend it at all times. It is afterall an embodiment of the ideals of the freedom charter.
As we deal with some difficult and challenging issues, let us derive strength from the words of our former President, Cde O. R. Tambo, when he addressed us during the ANC’s 48th National Conference in Durban in July 1991. He said:
“Even as we provide leadership, we were always conscious of the fact that the ANC was the people’s parliament. The widespread circulation of Constitutional Guidelines was a further assertion of the sovereignty of the people. The unity in action of our people has remained the guiding beacon throughout the days of illegality. To reach our goal of a united, democratic, nonracial and nonsexist South Africa, sooner rather than later, then we must not deviate from this course.
President Tambo went on to say:
“In this context, we considered it important that decisions of the ANC were to be shaped by popular mass endorsement at all times. Even if such decisions were acceptable within the Movement, they would have to come to naught unless they enjoyed popular support beyond the bounds of the ANC itself.
Whilst our policies were in terms of our beliefs and convictions, they also reflected and served the people’s interests. Above all, we sought to make the people part and parcel of our decisions”.
As we engage in our discussions this weekend, let us be guided by these wise words of President Tambo. Long live the spirit of Cde Tambo! Long live!
Comrade delegates, let me now come to theimmediate battle ahead of us – the Elections campaign. In Gauteng all our elections structures are in place. Our elections machinery is well oiled! On the 04th of June, we will have our Provincial launch of the ANC Elections Manifesto at the FNB Stadium.
Comrades, we are going into battle. There is no turning back. From the launch we will intensify door-to-door work and ensure that we reach out to all voters. We will additionally utalise all communication platform at our disposal, including social media, our website and more interaction with the traditional media.
Our aim is to win all municipalities in Gauteng including Midvaal. We must defend our base and ensure that our people renew our mandate.
As we approach these elections we do so with renewed confidence based on the knowledge that not only our track record of consistent service delivery for the past twenty two years but also our day-to-day work in communities will stand us in good stead.
Without any fear of contradiction, today we are closer to the dream of creating a better life for all our people compared to yesterday and tomorrow will be even closer. We have definitely changed the lives of our people for the better even thoughmuch still need to be done to achieve our much-cherished dream.
All these achievements notwithstanding, we need to ensure that we do not become complacent. Rather we should work doubly hard to cement our relationship with our people, retrench the trust between them and ourselves and take the mandate they have and continue to bestow on us very seriously.
We have to do the basics – ensure that our cities and towns are clean, our roads are in a good condition, clean water and electricity are available and accessible to our people. These are the basic but important things that directly touch the lives of our people.
Doing these right and consistently places us on a better footing to mount a successful elections campaign. The time for rhetoric and polemics has long past. What will guarantee victory in any elections going forward is, in the main, delivery of services. Being consistently in touch with our people, together developing our communities is another way of ensuring victory.
Comrade delegates, I am aware that you have been hard at work in branches and communities mobilizing our people to register to vote. We have contributed to the IEC exceeding its target of reaching out to new or unregistered voters, especially the youth. In Gauteng registered voters are sitting at more than 6 million people, and half of them are young people. You have also in branches and regions conducted credible nomination processes that culminated in regional lists been complied. I wish to commend you on the brilliant work in ensuring that these processes are not utilized to divide us and even fragment us.
Currently, our regions bar Ekurhuleni and Tshwane have successfully held regional list conferences. Once all regions are done with list conferences, we will then commence with the process of nominating mayors. Given the success of the nomination processes in our province, allowme also to congratulate all branches that held Branch General Meetings (BGMs) and conducted nominations for candidates according to the guidelines whilst involving communities in the process. This significant milestone goes a longway in ensuring that our list is populated with candidates that are credible and supported by the community.
Once again, congratulations comrades and keep it up! Let the spirit of unity and cohesion be carried through into the future as only disciplined, fair and credible contestations engender the unity and cohesion of the ANC whilst leaving our opponents green with envy. We also have a delivery track record that they can only dream of.
We are however disappointed by the isolated cases of ill discipline where those masquerading as our members disrupted some BGMs. We are particularly concerned by the misdemeanors of a handful of our members in Hamanskraal where people resorted to violence that led to a BGM being abandoned and a protector of an MMC being shot whilst other members were injured. It is also extremely unacceptable that a school was torched in the process.
We wish the protector a speedy recovery. We also condemn in the strongest possible terms these acts of criminality and we demand that those perpetuating these despicable acts desist from them.
As the PEC, we urge the regional leadership of Tshwane to take stern action against those responsible for these acts of criminality that has brought our organization into disrepute. No ill discipline should be tolerated within our ranks and there must be consequences for any malfeasances if we are to build a strong, vibrant, united organization. No one must be allowed to utilize force to advance his or her chances of being nominated as a councillor. We are a democratic organization and only the will of our members should prevail!
Comrades, we publicly committed ourselves to winning all municipalities in Gauteng and what we do and say including our posture will either bring us closer to achieving that objective or make our people lose confidence in us. Approaching the elections and even beyond, we need to remain humble, accepting our mistakes and shortcomings whilst taking steps to rectify same. We must also desist from provocative acts and refuse to be provoked as any conduct, action and behavior perceived to be in contravention of the electoral act attract dire consequences from the IEC and/or Electoral Court.
Being constantly in touch with our people is key! We must continue to hold ward and other meetings where we popularize our local government elections manifesto.
We should also intensify our door-to-door work to ensure that we reach out to a cross-section of people, listen to their concerns and act on them. Through the Ntirisano programe we have ensured that in Gauteng we govern in the same way as we campaign. The ANC remains the only organization that genuinely advances the interests of our people, challenges we are facing notwithstanding. It is therefore critical that we continue to be the voice and the shield of the people generally and the marginalized and downtrodden particularly. We are aware that our track record whilst proven will be contested by the opposition but this should not act as a deterrent.
The attacks and contestations should instead spur us on in our efforts to showcase our success stories and rekindle our people’s confidence in the ANC.
Let us utilize our manifesto to practically demonstrate that our policy propositions are the most superior and are backed by solid experience in government. Others have limited or no experience in governance and we should exploit this weakness on the opposition’s part.
Comrades, whilst paying special attention to the upcoming local government elections, we should utilize the next few days to also look at other organizational matters so as to ensure that the ANC continues to be a leader of society and a vehicle for change. The attainment of our people’s aspirations cannot be postponed further. Hence, the ANC should mobilise the entire society including the government it leads to do everything within their power to bring the vision of a better life to all our people closer to fruition. Anything but success or victory will be catastrophic!
Comrades, as I conclude, let me once again recall the wise words of former President, Oliver Reginald Tambo, when he closed the Conference in Durban in 1991. He said the following:
“Before I sit down, I wish to make a few observations: We did not tear ourselves apart because of lack of progress at times. We were always ready to accept our mistakes and to correct them. Above all, we succeeded to foster and defend the unity of the ANC and the unity of our people in general. Even in bleak moments, we were never in doubt that the people’s cause shall triumph”.
As I sit down, I am never in doubt that the ANC shall emerge victorious on the 03 of August. I am confident that the ANC will remain the Parliament of the People.
Cde President, once again a warm welcome to Gauteng. Be rest assured that the ANC in Gauteng remains strong, focused and is in good hands.
Asinamona, Asinanzondo, Siyayi dumisa iANC!
Comrade delegates, to the battle front – Mayihlome ihlasele!
All Power to the People!
Issued by the ANC Gauteng, 13 May 2016
