Statement of the African National Congress following a meeting of the National Executive Committee held on the 30th September to the 2nd October 2016
3 October 2016
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) met in a scheduled meeting on the 30th September to the 2nd October 2016. The meeting was the first since the NEC resolved to engage structures of the organisation in a post elections analysis to ensure that we listen to and act on the issues raised by the people during the Elections Campaign.
Consequently, the meeting received a report from the National Working Committee (NWC) based on the candid feedback received from our structures. The NWC report was a consolidation of the outcomes of the various engagements and made proposals for the development of a programme of action towards the 2019 General Elections that will halt the electoral decline, reclaim lost ground and restore the trust and confidence of the people in the ANC.
The NEC appreciates and is humbled by the fact that despite a reduced majority and the loss of key metros, the ANC remains the hope of the majority of South Africans and continues to enjoy popular support across the country. Disunity, factionalism and corruption have however created a trust deficit between the people and the ANC - leading to a loss of confidence by the people in their movement.
The people of South Africa expect the ANC to act faster to create jobs, fight crime and deal decisively with corruption; these are greatest concerns facing our people. The ANC must be bold in responding to these challenges knowing that any sense of being in denial will delay recovery and will only risk deepening the crisis further. We have also accepted that introspection is not an event. We must be continuously vigilant, reaffirm the values of the ANC – amongst others honesty, selflessness, sacrifice and humility - as we recommit ourselves to rebuilding society’s confidence in the ANC to lead the construction of a National Democratic Society.
The NEC has committed itself to work with our structures and communities to address the manipulation of the list process during the elections. This will be done through an extensive process of engagement that will unfold as follows:
- A team established by the NEC will listen to grievances raised by the branch (in the majority of cases it will be a section of the branch)
- Where there are different views, the NEC team should solicit such a view
- The councillor who is expected to resign should engaged and the issues raised explained to him/her
- Thereafter the discussion should be taken to the Branch General Meeting (BGM)
- The final report should be taken to a community meeting
- At this point there should be clarity and consensus as to what action needs to be taken
The NEC was of the view that it is necessary that the process be as thorough as possible to ensure that the broadest consultation takes place and all stakeholders are engaged to reach a solution acceptable to the majority. Lessons from this process must inform the review of the candidate selection process to be undertaken.
The NEC also resolved on the need to increase quantitative membership as well as qualitative leadership within our ranks by deepening ideological clarity and greater support to processes of cadre development. To deal with the scourges of factionalism, disunity and corruption, the NEC has called for stronger consequence management within the ANC.
Discipline within the ANC must stringently enforced at all levels and the values of the ANC must be discernible in all members in statement and conduct. Self-serving and careerist politicians must be discouraged from our ranks and those who use the ANC for selfish gain acted against. Accordingly, the NEC has called for the introduction of ad hoc lifestyle audits for political leaders and public servants. The NEC has also directed that all allegations of corruption must be responded to and clarified as soon as they arise.
The ANC remains a disciplined force of the left with a strategic goal to create a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society. To do so demands that we fulfill the responsibility and duty of the ANC to mobilise the entire nation around a common vision of the kind of society we wish to attain. The NEC has directed structures of the organisation to deepen engagement with all sectors of society.
To this end, the NEC will develop a programme of action to build capacity within the organisation, strengthen areas of weakness and reconnect with the motive forces of our revolution. Doing this requires openness to the ideas of the people and engagement with those whose approach is destructive. Vindictiveness and defensiveness only sustains negativity. This process of engagement must include amongst others more directed and meaningful engagement with youth and the middle stratum.
The NEC also resolved to support the ANC Veteran’s League to hold their National Conference, which is long overdue. We call on all veterans of our movement to be part of this conference to ensure that issues are thoroughly discussed and canvassed amongst them. By so doing, veterans of the ANC will be able to engage the ANC in a productive and structured manner and are able to make a full and rich contribution to the work of the ANC, the movement and the nation at large.
The relations between the Alliance partners are at their lowest since the 52nd National Conference of the ANC. To address these challenges, bilateral engagements between Alliance Partners will continue. The Alliance Secretariat and Political Council will also meet in a series of meetings to develop a programme towards the 2017 Alliance Summit.
The NEC extensively discussed the challenges at a number of State Owned Companies (SOCs). On the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the NEC called for the Board of the Corporation to review the decision to appoint Mr. Hlaudi Motsoeneng as Group Executive for Corporate Affairs. The NEC also agreed on the need for a Parliamentary inquiry into the Board’s fitness to hold office.
The NEC further expressed its discomfort with Eskom’s decision to suspend the Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme - in direct contradiction to what has been adopted as a policy decision of the ANC. Government is urged to reconsider this stance. The ANC has also called for the speedy resolution of the impasse between Denel and the Minister of Finance.
Monopoly Capital remains the main enemy of our revolution and the ANC must do even more to fundamentally alter the structure of our economy. However, as we continue to work hard to avoid sovereign ratings downgrades, the ANC must not be seen to be protecting the interests of white monopoly capital only.
We must strike a balance that ensures that we urgently implement measures of changing the ownership, control and management of the economy, working with business, labour and other sectors of society. The NEC welcomed the amendments to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework and called for engagement on the regulations being developed to boost small businesses and buying power of the state for transformation.
The NEC remains concerned about the challenges facing the global economy and its impact on our own economy. Measures to confront these realities are expected to form part of the discussions at the BRICS Summit in India next month. South Africa will continue to call for the transformation of the Bretton Wood Institutions and oligopolistic credit rating industry. To this end, the NEC supports the ANC-led government in the call for the establishment of BRICS credit rating agencies. The NEC also resolved to support the call for an African candidate, member of the Central Committee of FRELIMO, Cde Tomaz Salomao of Mozambique to be elected as Secretary General of the Socialist International.
The ANC will hold the celebrations for the 105th Anniversary of the founding of the ANC (January 8 celebrations) in Gauteng on Sunday 8th January 2017. The NEC further adopted the roadmap to the National Policy Conference, which will be held in June 2017. The National Policy Conference reviews ANC policy and makes recommendations on amendments or new policies to the National Conference.
The ANC congratulates the South African Olympic and Paralympic Teams for flying high the South African flag in Rio. The ANC also sends its well wishes to Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on 80 years of a life lived purposefully for the liberation of our people. The ANC sends wishes of joy, hope and happiness to our Jewish compatriots as they celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
Statement issued by ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, 3 October 2016
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STATEMENT OF THE ANC NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION PROTESTS AND DEMAND FOR FREE HIGHER EDUCATION
3 October 2016
The National Executive Committee (NEC) deliberated extensively on the ongoing protests in higher education. The NEC is disturbed by the interruption of the academic programme that has resulted from the wanton destruction of property, intimidation and violence.
The ANC expresses its condolences to the family of the WITS employee who lost her life in the past week.
The Freedom Charter says that The Doors of Learning and Culture shall be opened. It says specifically “ that higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships on the basis of merit.”
At least two Conferences of the ANC confirmed our resolve to implement free higher education, for undergraduate level students from poor and working class families. We have been hard at work to ensure the progressive realisation of this objective.
Some of the ANC- led government’s interventions include:
Substantial injections of new funding since 2010 to support the progressive introduction of free higher education and training for the poor:
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a state funded programme for funding poor students at universities, technical and vocational colleges.
- Government, through NSFAS, has already introduced free TVET college education to poor students.
- NSFAS bursary funding at TVET colleges has increased from R318 million in 2010 to R2.3 billion in 2016 and loan funding at universities has increased from R2.2 billion in 2010 to R6.4 billion in 2016.
- Substantial additional funding disbursed by NSFAS from the National Skills Fund (NSF) for scarce skills bursaries, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) for bursaries to support skills in specific sectors, Department of Basic Education for teacher bursaries and Department of Social Development for Social Work, amongst others. A total of R14.6 billion will be disbursed by NSFAS in the 2016 academic year to support approximately 480 000 students.
- R2.543 billion of the R14.6 billion has been earmarked for loans to pay off the historic debt of NSFAS qualifying students who were either underfunded or not funded in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 academic years.
- Government’s provision of R1.9 billion of the R2.3 billion shortfall resulting from the subsidization of the 2016 university fee increase with more than R4.5 billion in the 2016/17 financial year being reprioritised to NSFAS.
The NEC believes that the interventions of the ANC-led government give practical expression to the education provisions of the Freedom Charter. In fact, NSFAS goes beyond the Freedom Charter demands in that thousands of poor students are assisted through NSFAS. This funding model advances our goals of addressing inequality and ensuring the poor are not excluded from enjoying the opportunity of accessing higher education.
The recent announcement by cde Blade Nzimande, the minister of Higher Education, was welcomed as a significant step toward realising fee-free higher education for poor students. Students, who are current recipients of NSFAS and new applicants, will be supported to meet the costs of 2017. Students whose families earn up to R600 000annual household income, will not have to pay any fee increases. This so-called “missing middle” will also received NSFAS support. This is an unprecedented progressive intervention by the ANC government. Only those who can afford to pay will pay the increased fees.
The NEC agreed that, given that over 75% of students in universities and colleges will benefit, the government has moved a long way toward achieving fee-free higher education for many that are in need of assistance. We continue to support the principle that those who can afford to pay for higher education, must continue to do so in line with the principles of solidarity and cross-subsidization.
We call on students to return to lectures and continue with the academic programme. We appeal to parents to ensure an orderly return to learning.
The ANC continues to support and respect the rights of all in society to protest peacefully. The violence and destruction of university infrastructure accompanying some of the current protests cannot be justified. Destruction of property means public funds will have to be diverted from funding poor students to refurbishing infrastructure. Wecannot afford to lose more lives or continue to disrupt the academic programme.
We call on all to respect the rights of those students who wish to resume their studies and to identify and isolatethose who perpetrate acts of violence and destroy public property. The NEC further asks the police and the criminal justice system to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice.
The NEC encourages all structures to submit proposals on fees in higher education to the Heher Commission to ensure that the final proposals of the Commission include a broad range of views and perspectives.
Statement issued by ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, 3 October 2016
