ANC KZN special PEC meeting statement
3 October 2017
The ANC KwaZulu-Natal held a special Provincial Executive Committee meeting on Sunday, 1st October 2017. This meeting was subsequently followed by an ordinary meeting of the ANC Provincial Working Committee meeting held on Monday, 2nd October 2017. Both meetings made a considered reflection on a number of developments within and beyond the borders of our province.
We are unanimous in our resolve to conduct ourselves and do everything possible to advance the ideals of the National Democratic Revolution anchored on the commitment to build a National Democratic Society. All of this is premised on recognition that the ANC exists to serve our people.
Pietermaritzburg High Court Judgement
The Provincial Executive Committee together with the National Officials held a day long extensive and candid discussion on the current state of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal and challenges emanating from the Pietermaritzburg High Court Judgment.
The ANC National Executive Committee has taken a decision to support and join the ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Committee’s appeal against the PMB High Court judgment.
It is our collective considered view that the judgment contains wider implications and has a potential to distort and weaken the authority of the PEC and NEC which are the supreme structures of organization with the authority to lead and make decisions in between conferences.
The PEC welcomes and respects the decision of the National Executive Committee to continue and recognize the existence of the ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Committee elected at the 8th provincial conference in November 2015, despite the current legal processes.
We also welcome and commit to the ongoing process of engagements seeking to find a sustainable political solution to the challenges facing the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal. The PEC acknowledges enormous challenges subsequent to a divergence of views on leadership perspective leading to the 8th KZN provincial conference and how these have now evolved and impacted upon by developments towards the 54th ANC National Conference.
Given the real and objective challenges that continue to constrain the advancement of the National Democratic Revolution it is profoundly significance to overcome all internal weaknesses and reposition the ANC as an effective agent of change.
There is a firm convergence of views within and among all ANC leaders and structures in KwaZulu-Natal on the imperative to work for the unity of the African National Congress. The unity of the movement is premised on the common and shared commitment to build a National Democratic Society.
Commission of Inquiry
The ANC Provincial Executive Committee continues to follow developments and the work of the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Premier, comrade Willies Mchunu, to investigate causes of killings in our province.
It is our strong view that the decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry sets the province on a correct path towards discovering the real motives behind the brutal killings of people in our province. We remain steadfastly convinced that it is necessary to have a concrete and informed understanding on this phenomenon, rather than depending on conspiracies and divisive allegations.
The ANC Provincial Executive Committee will appear before the Commission of Inquiry on the 19th & 20th October in order to provide its own perspective on this difficult challenge facing our province.
Celebration of OR Tambo Month
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal will soon announce a detailed and elaborate programme to celebrate the life and contribution of President Oliver Tambo to the struggle for liberation. These events will include, among others, cadre’s forums, memorial lectures, rallies and activities of goodwill in service of the people.
Given the complex challenges we continue to face, it is natural that all of us must be driven by a sense of urgency to consolidate the unity of the African National Congress in honor of President Tambo and his generation.
Unity of the ANC in Harry Gwala
The ANC Provincial Working Committee continues with a series of engagements with the ANC structures and councillors in Harry Gwala Region in an effort to overcome difficulties confronting the movement in the region.
We recognize that the painful loss of life has created a climate of mistrust and suspicions among ANC members which undermines the standing of the organization as a leader of society.
Our immediate problems can only be counteracted and successfully overcome by a movement and membership that does not lose hope because of difficulties. The African National Congress has and will always be driven by a conviction to resolve all problems in the best interests of our people.
The ANC Provincial Executive Committee calls on all our members and supporters not and never allow themselves to be misled by false rumours, malicious and depressing gossip about the motive behind tragic loss of lives, without credible evidence.
Local Government Summit
The PEC will convene a Local Government Summit before the end of October to critically assess progress in the implementation of the ANC 2016 Local Government Elections Manifesto. We have a contract to serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal who gave the ANC a resounding mandate to govern.
Preperations for by-elections
Over the next two weeks , ANC will be campaining for by-elections at Moses Mabhida Region, Richmond Sub-Region, and Lower South Coast Region, Ray Nkonyeni Sub-Region. These by-elections come as the results of the passing away of our councillors in the past few months.
The Richmond Municipality by-election on Wards 02 and Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, Ward 10 and Ward 28.The ANC has followed all the processes to selecting the comrades that will represent our movement.
In the next few months, the ANC will be working tirelessly in preparation for the by-elections that will be held at Moses Mabhida Region, Umkhambathini Municipality, Abaqulusi Region, Abaqulusi Municipality and Musa Dladla Region, Umlalazi Municipality.
Killings of ANC members
The PEC conveys its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of comrade Nkosinathi Ngcobo who was murdered last night. Comrade Nathi was a former ANC Branch Chairperson in ward and currently employed as the Secretary to the EXCO of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality in Harry Gwala Region.
Our deepest condolences also go to the family and friends of comrade Bongani Msomi who is a former ANC councillor at Umtubatuba Local Municipality. He was killed while attending a local Maskandi Festival in Umtubatuba. It is indeed a matter of great pain that the African National Congress continue to lose its committed activists who are committed to its historic mission. For us losing any person in the province is really a pain and unbearable.
Issued by Mdumiseni Ntuli, Provincial Spokesperson, ANC KZN, 3 October 2017
