ANC STATEMENT ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE NEC LEKGOTLA HELD AT THE St GEORGE HOTEL 14 - 17 JULY 2011
The African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) met for four days in a Lekgotla held in Tshwane's St George Hotel from 14 - 17 July 2011 to make an in-depth assessment of work done by Government since the January Lekgotla. The NEC lekgotla was attended by the NEC members, alliance partners, ANC's leagues, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Director Generals.
The Lekgotla took decisions that will inform the work of the government during the planned Cabinet lekgotla to take place towards the end of July. The following are key decisions taken by the lekgotla:
On Education
We acknowledge the increase in access to education, both at the level of basic and higher education.
The Annual National Assessment report highlighted the seriousness of near crisis in our education in terms of the quality of our education system and time spent in class.
The lekgotla accepted the demerger of the Medunsa Medical School from the University of Limpopo and the establishment of the medical school linked to the University of Limpopo. Equally important was the agreement to accelerate the establishment of new universities in Mpumalanga and in the Northern Cape.
Health
We are happy to see the six-fold increase of the number of people who have been tested voluntarily for HIV towards the 15 million target. This shows the seriousness and commitment of the ANC in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The number of people who access treatment was also welcome.
Consideration was made on the establishment of a state pharmaceutical company as resolved in the 2007 ANC National Conference in Polokwane.
The lekgotla received report on the progress made towards improving all round skills profile of the department of health.
The Lekgotla also received a report on the revitalization of nursing colleges and homes and was impressed with work done at nursing colleges and homes.
It was resolved that National Treasure and the Department of Health will establish NHI seed grant by December this year in order to facilitate the implementation of the National Health Insurance.
Infrastructure.
Specific infrastructure projects that will be implemented were reported on. This includes an agreement on a 10-year plan for development and implementation covering roads and rail infrastructure. This plan will prioritise under developed areas.
It was agreed on the need to fund the distribution of energy and implement and develop partnerships in core generation of energy. Also the provision of additional funding for solar water heating
It was also agreed that there was a need to develop and implement a national led and coordinated water and sanitation infrastructure including refurbishing and maintain all water and sanitation infrastructure in municipalities and expanding water infrastructure into rural areas
Rural development
The lekgotla agreed on a comprehensive rural development plan.
It was agreed to implement the creation of the Office of the Land Valuer General and the Land Management Commission
It was also agreed on the four land tenure agreement which are state and public land leasehold, private land freehold with limited extension and foreign - precarious tenure with conditions and obligations and communal tenure with institutionalized use rights.
A need has been identified to improve the skills profile of the public service. In this regard, the filling of vacancies must focus on creating the critical skills (frontline skills), to elevate Palama to be a public service academy.
Local government
It was agreed that the budgeting process be reviewed to ensure the effectiveness of councils.
National, provincial and local government to establish an integrated support mechanism for municipalities.
Government and SOEs both at national and provincial level must pay monies owed to municipalities
Employment creation has again been adopted as an over-arching responsibility for all departments and all spheres of government.
Statement issued by ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, July 19 2011
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