Statement of the African National Congress following meeting of the National Working Committee held on the 11th July 2016
12 July 2016
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the African National Congress (ANC) met in an ordinary scheduled meeting yesterday, 11 July 2016. The NWC is a constitutional structure of the ANC responsible for conducting the work of the ANC and met to deliberate on the following issues:
1. Elections Report
2. Developments at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)
3. Report of the Integrity Commission on allegations against Cde Marius Fransman
4. Developments within the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
On Elections
The African National Congress has entered the final phase of our march to a decisive electoral victory on the 3rd August 2016. The ANC has been on the ground, interacting with our people and in all areas where we have been, our people have warmly received the ANC. We are now in the final countdown to Elections Day and call on all South Africans to vote ANC on the 3rd August 2016. No one must stay at home confident of an ANC victory. We must all make our mark. Branches of the ANC must provide support to all those who will need to make special votes and ensure that all eligible voters are assisted, where necessary, to come out and cast their votes.
The ANC further calls on all our structures and supporters to resist any provocation during campaigning and continue to work for a peaceful, free and fair election.
Recent developments at the SABC
The Media Charter of the ANC (Ready to Govern, 1992) affirms the fundamental principle that the ANC will create an open society characterized by the free flow of information and culture of open debate within the context of a democratic constitution and a Bill of Rights.
It further identifies that at the core of democracy lies the recognition of the rights of all citizens to partake in society decision-making progress, requiring that individuals are armed with necessary information – “an ignorant society cannot be democratic” and that “there shall be no institutional or legislative measures restricting the free flow of information or imposing censorship over the media”. The ANC Media Charter further protects media workers against intimidation and other forms of pressure which inhibit their work.
This has formed and remains the principle of the ANC’s policy on press freedom and the right all our people have to access information. Successive conferences of the ANC have reaffirmed this position and amongst others resolutions of the ANC was a call to increase in local content across all SABC stations. The current debate is not about the 90% local content, local content is a policy position of the ANC and we fully support its implementation.
The 53rd National Conference identified a “series of crises at the public broadcaster that reflect a lack of leadership, lack of accountability and poor management” with the National General Council (NGC) held in 2015 noting a “public broadcasting system beset by many structural, managerial and funding problems that needs to be restructured and repositioned to prioritize public service”
It is against this background that the National Working Committee received a report from an earlier meeting of the Communications Sub-Committee on recent developments at the SABC.
The NWC reaffirmed the correctness of the Communications Sub-Committee position against any form of censorship being imposed at the SABC. It further welcomed the ruling by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
Matters relating to the corporate governance challenges in the institution and the high turnover of CEO’s amongst others, will be receiving urgent attention. The ANC Parliamentary Caucus is also expected to give the SABC the requisite attention.
The ANC is calling on all our structures to desist making any further comments on matters relating to the SABC.
Report of the Integrity Commission
The National Officials received a report of the Integrity Commission, which was tabled for noting to the NWC. The report has recommended that the matter concerning Comrade Marius Fransman be referred to the ANC National Disciplinary Committee and this has been accepted.
Developments within the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
The National Working Committee of the African National Congress expressed concern about the recent upsurge of destabilization activities in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. These activities follow the assessment we had earlier made as Liberation Movements of the sponsored elements seeking to effect regime change in region.
Issued by Gwede Mantashe, Secretary General, ANC, 12 July 2016
