STATEMENT OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS FOLLOWING THE NEC MEETING HELD ON THE 6TH AND 7TH JANUARY 2014

The National Executive Committee of the African National Congress met at a special meeting from the 6th to the 7th January 2014 at the Nutting House Lodge in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. This was the NEC's first meeting of 2014 and was convened to assess the organisation's state of readiness for the 102nd Anniversary Celebration and the 2014 General Elections Manifesto launch here in Mpumalanga this week, amongst others.

The NEC considered and approved the ANC's Election Manifesto. This was a culmination of a long process of consultation with our people throughout the length and breadth of our country.  These engagements allowed our people to tell the ANC what they want government to concentrate on in further improving their lives over the next 5 years. This people's manifesto will be unveiled on Friday and formally launched at the Rally on Saturday.

The NEC also approved the January 8 Statement, which is delivered annually to mark the birth of the ANC in 1912. The January 8 statement shall issue marching orders to the members and supporters of the ANC for the coming year, having reviewed the challenges and successes of the current period. Since this is an election year, the January 8 statement will draw heavily on the 2014 Elections Manifesto.

The National Executive Committee also received a briefing on the Inter-Ministerial Task Team report on the security upgrades in Nkandla. The NEC accepted this report as a factual representation of what had transpired in the course of the state fulfilling its responsibility to ensure the security and protection of the President of the Republic. This report further provides us with the information required in order for the ANC to deal with the matter. The NEC appreciates the important distinction that has been established between what has been spent on government infrastructure to boost rural development in the area and what was spent on the personal homestead of the President.

The NEC however remains concerned about the amount of money that has been spent during the Nkandla Security Upgrade. We have thus called for the recommendations from the report to be implemented with the necessary speed. Amongst these recommendations is that anybody who is guilty of having received monies wrongfully during the security upgrade project must be pursued criminally and all monies misappropriated must be recouped from the civil servants and contractors. Those who will believe that they are scapegoats because they will want to say they acted on the directive of certain political principals have a responsibility to disclose who those political principals are.

The general tendency of inflating prices in major infrastructure projects undertaken by the Department of Public Works is a major concern to the National Executive Committee and must be dealt with holistically. This report on the security upgrades at President Zuma's homestead in Nkandla will now be disseminated to the structures of the African National Congress for them to also engage with the issues as presented as we await the long anticipated release of the Public Protector's report on the same matter.

The African National Congress is ready the 102nd Anniversary Celebrations and Manifesto Launch that shall take place this weekend. We have already begun receiving many of our guests and two accreditation centres have been set up at the Kruger International Airport and the Lowveld Agricultural College/University of Mpumalanga for those that shall need accreditation.

On Friday 10th January, the President of the ANC will unveil the 2014 Elections Manifesto to be launched at the Rally at a Gala Dinner at the Church on the Hill in Mbombela. The dinner will be attended by over 1200 people drawn the faith based sector, traditional leadership, ambassadors ad business, media, civil society and creative sector. The Allies and Leagues of the ANC are part of the hosts of these celebrations. All major broadcasters in the country will also broadcast the unveiling of the Manifesto live.

The African National Congress is confident that we shall fill to capacity the 53 000 seater Mbombela stadium on Saturday 11th January. We have made provision for 4 overflow areas and open public viewing facilities. To date, just over 1000 busses have been confirmed to descend on Mbombela from all corners of our country. 300 taxis will also be ferrying supporters of the ANC to the stadium. Stadium gates will open at 06h30 and the cultural component of the programme will kick off at 08h30. The formal part of the programme to be addressed by Comrade President Jacob Zuma shall commence at 10h00. Amongst the entertainment that has been secured are the Idol Winner and Runner-Up from Mpumalanga Musa and Brandon, Zahara, Sfiso Ncwane, Ihashe Elimhlophe amongst many others.

The ANC has been encouraged by the reception of the ANC leadership in various parts of the Province during the build-up activities. We are therefore confident that the Province and the people of the country will come in their numbers to celebrate with the ANC and listen to the President as he launches our Manifesto for the 2014 Elections.

Statement issued by Gwede Mantashe, ANC Secretary General, January 9 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter