Dr. Danny Jordaan SAFA CEO,
Dr. Irvin Khoza, Chairman - 2010 World Cup LOC
The Financial Times team - Alan Miller, Alec Russell, Adrian Clarke, Mark
Carwadine and Rochelle Josiah,
Captains of commerce and industry,
Distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening, sanibonani!

We meet during a rather eventful week on the political front!

We appreciate this opportunity provided by the Financial Times, for this discussion on priorities for our country.

I have, since the beginning of the year; as you would be aware, embarked on a few international visits, building on those undertaken towards the end of last year before the ANC's 52nd national conference in Polokwane.

We have decided to deepen relationships with like-minded political parties, and also with ruling parties in countries which are our key investment partners or potential partners.

Our message to them has been simple: South Africa is a good investment destination. We offer political stability. We have a solid, vibrant constitutional democracy underpinned by a respect for the separation of powers and the rule of law.

There is a progressive government in place, run by the oldest liberation movement in the continent. We have put sound economic and social transformation policies on the table, focused on the eradication of poverty.

We also state unapologetically that our policies are biased in favour of the workers, the poor and the marginalized. We have found in our discussions with business and political leaders in Germany, France, United Kingdom, India and China that a keen interest exists to do business with South Africa.

We are satisfied with the progress we have made. It is my firm conviction that our country is on the right path economically and politically. It also has potential for sustainable economic growth, which is coupled with job creation and the enhancement of the fight against poverty.

We have a perfect idea of where we want to take the country over the next five years. This is spelt out in the resolutions of the ANC's 52nd conference in Polokwane. Economic transformation is a key priority. The central and most pressing challenges we face are unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Our most effective weapon in the campaign against poverty is the creation of decent work, which requires faster economic growth. In this regard, we reiterate our determination to reduce unemployment and poverty levels, and substantially reduce social and economic inequality.

Given our determined fight against poverty, we are naturally concerned about the increase in food and fuel prices.

We are not a producer of oil and but we have land that can be cultivated. We have a robust programme of land usage for food production, which can help us achieve food and job security.

Therefore, to deal with rising food prices, we must get people to work the land in the countryside, through effective rural development programmes. We need to have a South African discussion about the structure of commercial agriculture.

Our agriculture has continued to develop in a manner characterised by a growing concentration of ownership and farm size, under-utilisation of vast tracts of land, capital intensity, job-shedding and the casualisation of labour.

Simply put, we have to talk about how best we will use the land to feed the nation and to reduce dependency on food imports.

I say we must have a South African discussion because all role players must find each other on this matter.

Other priorities for the next five years are education, health and crime. We have to improve our performance in maths, science and technology amongst our children. Amongst the working population, to ensure competitiveness, we have to improve the entrepreneurial business and financial skills, and also to build our public and project management capacities. We are also looking to revive the role that was played by state-owned enterprises in skills development and training. We must build partnerships between the state, parastatals, the union movement and the private sector in the quest to improve skills.

We want to improve access to public health care, through amongst other interventions, revitalising health care facilities such as clinics and hospitals. Access to cheaper medicines is another focus area.

The fight against HIV and AIDS will be won if all sectors and individuals play their part. The prevention campaign is still the most effective weapon, coupled with promoting access to treatment and psychosocial support for the infected and affected.

The fight against crime is an ongoing national priority. The highest form of arrogance a criminal can display is to attack police officers, our buffer against crime and lawlessness.

We read this morning of the cruel murder of Inspector Jaco Botha of the City of Tshwane, who was gunned down after responding to an ATM bombing in the city. The audacity of criminals is shocking, and dares government and all of us to work even harder to eliminate crime.

Most importantly we rely on members of the community. These criminals are brothers, sisters, fathers, husbands and neighbours of many of our citizens. People have a responsibility to pass on information about them to the police, anonymously if need be. We have instructed our branches to establish street committees. These will assist us to monitor and take action against crime, working actively with the police.

Unless we show practically that crime does not pay, we will take longer to eradicate this scourge. We extend our condolences to the families of all police officers and all citizens who have lost their loved ones through violent crime.

We have said that there will not be any major policy shifts when a new administration takes over next year. We say this as our policies are already in existence; they were adopted at the 52nd national conference in Polokwane in December 2007. We cannot rule out fine-tuning and strengthening some of the policy areas, but in essence, the direction was charted in Polokwane.

However, there is a lot of room for improvement regarding implementation. That means we have to ensure that civil servants are committed, ready and willing to effectively implement the policies of the government of the day.

The public servants will need to be awake to the needs of a ruling party that will require a visible and tangible implementation of its policies.

Ladies and gentlemen, the preservation of the ANC's character, culture and values in a changing context and new conditions of struggle is the central focus of the organisational renewal effort, in the run-up to the Centenary of the ANC in 2012. We have been visiting provincial structures and will continue to do so, as part of the rebuilding and renewal process.

We recognise that a broad movement like the ANC will never be without robust contestation from all who feel they have a right to influence it. We however reject the behaviour that goes contrary to the natural laws of decency and the traditions and values of the ANC. I reiterate that we will not tolerate repulsive behaviour and thuggery.

As we renew the organisation, there will no doubt be a lot of activity and contestation, which may dominate the news media, as the ANC does not do things quietly. This should not be seen as a sign of the ANC falling apart. It will be the birth pangs of a stronger, united, more focused organisation that is closer to the masses that it serves.

Within a few days, a run off election will take place in Zimbabwe. We are concerned about reports of violence in that country as any violence immediately puts pressure on the elections. The ANC will be sending observers as part of the 400-strong SADC observer mission. Our contribution to this mission includes 14 Members of Parliament and 15 other members.

We remain committed to contributing in whatever way it can, within the ambit of multilateral institutions like SADC, towards a successful and credible run-off election.

Let me use this opportunity to implore all of you, to participate actively in the efforts to prepare for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

It is our country's greatest marketing and development opportunity. Although it seems daunting, we know that we can pull it off, and we will.

I thank you.

Speech issued by the African National Congress June 19 2008