ANC NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE STATEMENT, 13 -14 NOVEMBER 2010

The National Executive Committee (NEC) held its first meeting after the successful National General Council (NGC), held in Durban, from the 20th to the 24th September 2010, which was the biggest political school ever.  This was the last ordinary NEC meeting of the year.

In its assessment of the NGC, the NEC unanimously agreed that it was a resounding success and an important turning point in the life of the organisation. Despite commentators and prophets of doom, having labelled the NGC a looming catastrophe before it even started, the NGC cemented ANC unity and cohesion and the ANC emerged from this important mid-term review mechanism more united than it ever was since Polokwane. The Council highlighted the commitment by members of the ANC.

The NEC reaffirmed the following core values of our movement: unity, selflessness, sacrifice, collective leadership, humility, honesty, discipline, hard work, internal debates, constructive criticism and self-criticism and mutual respect.

TAKING FORWARD RESOLUTIONS OF THE NGC

The NGC provided clear directives on what should be done to ensure that by 2012 when the ANC turns 100 years old, it is the ANC that is steeped in values, traditions and principles that have sustained it over many years and earned it the leadership of the South African revolution and society.

RESEARCH ON THE NATIONALISATON OF THE MINES

On the issue of nationalization of the Mines, the NEC has resolved to appoint two senior researchers and a project manager to investigate successful models that could be considered on the role of the state in mining. We are engaging the research institutions to provide researchers to the project.  Our Economic Transformation Committee will provide terms of reference for such research and will also give us a reference group to oversee the work on behalf of the NEC.  A report on this work will be presented to the NEC in the last quarter of next year in preparation for our policy conference in 2012.

ON DISCIPLINE

Discipline, combined with loyalty and respect for the organization has always been the cornerstone of the ANC.

The NEC reiterate the call by the NGC that members of the ANC deployed and elected at whatever positions must behave and conduct themselves in a manner befitting the description of a disciplined cadre of the ANC, whose pre-occupation is to serve and contribute in bettering the lives of our people.

The ANC will ensure that discipline prevails, any transgression and deviation from our values, traditions and practices will be met with resolute action from the NEC and all the structures of our movement in line with the NGC directive.

The NGC also reiterated the need to maintain the decorum of the organization, which includes avoiding public spats. It was emphasized that public spats and generalized attacks on the ANC turns to weaken it rather than helping it in the fight against the negative tendencies identified by the NGC.

ON GENDER

In taking forward the directive of the NGC to put gender matters in all aspect of our work, the NEC has decided to establish a gender committee that will be tasked with ensuring that our approach on gender is consistent with our objective of building a non-sexist South Africa.

ON THE ALLIANCE

The NEC reiterated the centrality and importance of the Alliance and remains convinced that the ANC cannot liquidate the Alliance.  We have a historical duty to lead and strengthen the Alliance and all its components. In this regard the NEC noted the Civil Society Conference lead by COSATU.

The NEC endorsed the recommendation of the NWC to further engage COSATU on this matter and any other matters that are of mutual interest and are meant to advance the National Democratic Revolution.

The NEC reaffirmed the leadership role of the ANC in the Alliance, which imposes a bigger responsibility on the ANC for ensuring unity and cohesion of the Alliance.  The Alliance Summit which was scheduled for the end of this year will now be convened at the last week of January 2011.

MONITORING SYSTEM

The NEC has agreed to establish a monitoring and evaluation system at the ANC Headquarters to monitor government and party performance.

ON THE INTERGRITY COMMITTEE

The ANC decided to establish an Integrity Committee in taking forward the decisions of the NGC.  A team has been put in place to look at the modalities of the establishment of such an Integrity Committee and also to look at the code of ethics for leaders of the ANC who are not in any government structures.

ANC PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR 2011

This coming December, the ANC will hold the Local Government Summit as directed by the NGC.  This will be followed by the holding of our 99th Anniversary Celebrations in Limpopo, Polokwane at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on the 8th January 2011.  The theme for this ANC 99th Anniversary celebration will be: Together Consolidating people's power for a national Democratic Society, towards hundred years of selfless struggle.

The ANC will hold its Lekgotla in January 2011, which will then guide and feed into the Cabinet Lekgotla scheduled also for January 2011.  A key focus on these makgotla will be the strengthening of our public health system and institutions as well as ways and means of ensuring creation of sustainable jobs.

After the holding of makgotla, the ANC will launch its Local Government elections campaign in February 2011.

ON THE NORTH WEST AND THE WESTERN CAPE

The Western Cape and the North West provinces are moving relatively well towards the holding of their provincial conferences.  The NEC reaffirmed that the provincial conferences be held by the end of December 2010.  The NEC committed itself to give additional support to the Western Cape in ensuring that it meets this objective.

ON INTERNATIONAL WORK

The NEC received and welcomed the report regarding our international work. To date the ANC has undertaken successful trip to Australia, Mozambique and China since the last NEC.  A follow up will be made to cement fraternal relations with sister parties in a number of countries.

The NEC received a report on the preparations that are underway to host the World Youth Festival, from 13 - 23 December 2010, with the expected participation of scores of young people from more than 160 countries. 

The NEC resolved to give all possible support in ensuring that the festival is a success.

Statement issued by ANC Secretary General, Cde Gwede Mantashe, November 15 2010

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