PRESIDENT COMRADE JACOB ZUMA ON THE PREPARATIONS TOWARDS THE 55TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE

26 SEPTEMBER 2022

The African National Congress is preparing to hold its 55th national conference in December 2022,

The conference is generating a lot of debates and activity both within and outside the movement as is always the case, when this historic movement which made the biggest contribution in the liberation of the oppressed people in this country-

It is no wonder therefore that friends and foe find it necessary to make all manner of comments when we go to our congress,

I would like to clarify a few issues and share my perspective as the preparations gain momentum. It is a well-known fact that the ANC faces serious organisational challenges which it should overcome for it to regain its place as the leader of South African society and the beacon of hope for the majority of people in our country,

I have, in spite of the difficulties caused by my current legal situation, been having consultations with leaders of the ANC at various levels who have sought my views on the conference and what needs to be done to rebuild the ANC.

While the conference should deliver policies that will take the country forward on its transformative journey from apartheid colonialism to a National Democratic Society, the question of the type of leaders that should emerge to lead this mission is of paramount importance,

There have been rumours in the public domain and the media about my leadership preferences for the upcoming conference, I wish to indicate that I have not shifted from the position we had taken in 2017,

What is strange to me is that the majority of the people who are being talked about now as we go to the 55th national conference as part of the candidates who supported Cyril Ramaphosa in the 54^th National Conference-

Comrades we must not have short memories in the past few years' comrades were overwhelmed by a lot of money not using political conscience but guided by greed to nominate and vote for African National Congress President. Which led to the significant drop in the national election in 2019 and dismal performance in the Metropolitan municipalities and some of the strategic municipalities-

The candidate that we supported in 2017 at the 54^th national conference [Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma] remains the most capable to lead the ANC, given her track record in the movement and government, leadership capabilities and qualities and her understanding and knowledge of the ANC amongst others-

I have heard some few comrades raising some issues with regards to her, but unfortunately they all dismal failed to present a better candidate with better credentials than hers except those who have a lot of money-

Unfortunately, it is not those that have a lot of money that counts on the contrary it is those who have the capabilities to help lead the ANC and are trustworthy to the principles and policies of the of the ANC-

I also wish to advise I have not endorsed or supported any other presidential candidate for the 55th National Conference as reported by social media-

I also wish to confirm that I have been approached by a number of cadres to make myself available for the position of national chairperson of the ANC, to contribute in the rebuilding of the organisation and to provide direction-

I have indicated that I will be guided by the branches of the ANC and that I will not refuse such a call should they deem it necessary for me to serve the organisation again at that level or any other-

Comrades, we reiterate the call made in previous ANC national conferences for branches to be given space to do their work without being coerced or manipulated and without the use of money to influence nominations and votes.

Media Statement By President Jacob Zuma On The Preparations Towards The 55th National Conference. pic.twitter.com/TC8AZo36CM

— Dudu Zuma-Sambudla (@DZumaSambudla) September 26, 2022

We need to revive the ANC of old, where branches nominated and selected people based on the requirements of the organisation at that particular period or epoch rather than resources at their disposal-

Comrades, we have noted the current call for older leaders to make way for the youth-

In the past few years a call was made for a generational mix, a fusion of younger and older leaders to enrich the movement- As a result, many younger leaders were elected into the National Executive Committee.

I also appointed a number of younger leaders as cabinet ministers and deputy ministers as part of the mission of building a pool of leaders that could take the movement and government forward in implementing the progressive policies of the ANC-

The younger leaders need to conduct an introspection and ask themselves what they have achieved in the various areas which would warrant the call for a generational take-over rather than a generational mix-

The ANC suffered devastating electoral losses in the Local Government Elections in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal in November 2021, while the province was led by the younger generation of leaders- The notion of a generational mix rather than a generational take-over remains valid in my view.

Comrades lets return the ANC to its rightful owners The upcoming conference provides an opportunity for the ANC to be returned to its rightful owners, the membership, and to extricate it from the invisible but powerful forces that use it to entrench privilege and protect the status quo domestically and globally-

These forces are determined to keep the black majority economically subjugated to protect their ill-gotten gains- A stronger and united ANC is a serious threat to their hegemony-

We look forward to a successful conference that will put us on the path towards achieving a stronger and united ANC that will take forward the delayed reconstruction and development of our country-