The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) held a regular scheduled meeting in Ekurhuleni on 7-8 September 2007.
The meeting discussed political preparations for the ANC's 52nd National Conference taking place at the University of Polokwane on 16-20 December 2007.
The NEC emphasised the need for all structures of the movement to focus in the next three months on the important organisational and policy issues that must advance the ANC's objectives and programmes.
The meeting confirmed that the principle tasks of the Conference are to:
- review the progress of the national democratic struggle since the 2002 Stellenbosch Conference;
- review our organisational challenges over the last five years and therefore our effectiveness in terms of effectively pursuing the goals of the national democratic struggle;
- set the goals of the organisation in the period up to our next Conference and centenary in 2012;
- decide what we have to do to strengthen ourselves organisationally to achieve these goals; and,
- elect the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Building on the work done at the ANC Policy Conference in June, branches are currently engaged in detailed discussions towards draft resolutions. These discussions will continue until the end of October, culminating in provincial general councils.
In his political overview, President Thabo Mbeki noted the intensive campaign in both the domestic and international media to reduce the Conference to no more than a leadership election,a "power struggle" that has nothing to do with the ANC's policies and programmes.
He called on the NEC to consider how the organisation should respond to this campaign, and what guidance should be given to members on how the process should be conducted.
The NEC agreed that this campaign should not distract structures from discussing the substantive issues of policy and programmes that arose from the Policy Conference.
Nor should it influence the proper, necessary and important processes that must happen within ANC structures to nominate and ultimately elect the NEC.
The organisation has agreed procedures for the nomination and election of members of the NEC. These are well known to all members, having evolved through the long-standing democratic practices and traditions of the movement.
In a special message to ANC members, the NEC said the organisation should reclaim the debate about who its leaders should be.
It said it was important to reiterate some principle matters:
- There is only one ANC, and only one elected ANC national leadership collective. This is as much true of the present as it will be after National Conference.
- All cadres should respect and uphold the collective decisions of the ANC membership, as reflected in the resolutions and outcomes of National Conference.
- Members and structures should be prepared to persuade others and be persuaded by others about the suitability of candidates. They should do so openly and honestly, informed by a desire to arrive at a leadership collective that is most capable of responding to the challenges of the next five years.
- The ANC has long been characterised by its ability to combine diversity and unity. A divergence of views within the organisation, whether on leadership candidates or on any other matter, is not the same as an organisation divided.
- The power to elect the leadership of the ANC lies with its membership. This membership must be given the space and the opportunity to exercise this right at National Conference, free from any outside interference and in a manner that serves to build and unite the movement.
Theme:
Reflecting on the central tasks of the ANC over the next five years leading up to its centenary, the NEC adopted the following as the theme for the 52nd National Conference: "Building a caring society. Advancing in unity towards 2012."
Credentials
The NEC adopted the credentials proposal for Conference, which outlines how many delegate spaces are allocated to each category and structure. This proposal, based on the ANC Constitution, makes provision for 4,000 voting delegates.
Of these, 90% will be elected by branches on the basis of an audit of ANC membership that will be finalised within the next week. Only branches found to have been in good-standing on 30 June 2007 will be allowed to send delegates to Conference.
The remaining 10% of voting delegates is allocated to the NEC (66 delegates), the Women's League and Youth League (68 delegates each), and the nine Provincial Executive Committees (22 delegates each).
Non-voting delegates, of which there will be 400, include ANC Regional Executive Committees, MPs, MPLs, veterans, and members deployed in various sectors.
The 200 observers will include representatives of the ANC's alliance partners, organisations of the broader democratic movement, fraternal parties and international organisations. There will also be 200 local and international guests, including representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps in South Africa.
Membership audit
The NEC received a report on progress in the audit of ANC membership, carried out by the national audit task team under the leadership of the Secretary General. The physical count of all ANC branch records has been completed. Over the next week, the task team will be verifying and cross-checking the audit results, whereafter the allocation of delegates will be completed.
Electoral Commission
The NEC confirmed the electoral procedure and rules based on the ANC Constitution. Nominations will start in branch general meetings from the beginning of October, and will be consolidated into provincial nominations at Provincial General Councils.
Each province and league will be expected to submit nominations for each of the Officials' positions and the 60 additional NEC members by no later than 26 November 2007.
The NEC appointed the members of the Electoral Commission, which will be responsible for overseeing the nominations and elections process. They are Henry Makgothi, Ruth Mompati. Mochubela Seekoe, Laloo Chiba, Ben Turok, Benson Fihla, Essop Jassat, Bertha Gxowa, Rosalia Morutuoa, Makho Njobe, Rashaka Ratshitanga and Gertrude Shope.
