REMARKS BY ANC TREASURER-GENERAL MATHEWS PHOSA TO THE CAPE TOWN PRESS CLUB

Master of ceremonies,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,

The ANC has achieved substantial successes in the past 15 years as a government. Some of them are that:

• We have increased the number of people receiving social grants by more than 9 million.
• From an initial 34 000 children that received social grants, we now have more that 7 million children under the age of 14 receiving such grants.
• We have built 2.7 million free houses for the poor giving shelter to more 10 million people.
• Through a number of public programs we have ensured that new entrants into the employment market have the hope of finding jobs.
• Our mass literacy program is reaching more that a half a million people.
• We have created massive opportunities, jobs and skills through the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
• We have turned around an economy which was faltering when democracy dawned on us in 1994.

The South African government, executing the policies of the ANC, has become a respected partner in the region, the continent, and in the world. We are punching way above our weight limit.

To continue with the excellent work that we have done in the first fifteen years, we as the ANC we have identified five priority areas to focus on for the next five years. They are:

• The creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods.
• The further improvement of educational infrastructure services.
• The further improvement of health services.
• Rural development, food security and land reform.
• The fight against crime and corruption.

We will pursue the above agenda with the knowledge that we have built up from 1994, as well as a dogged determination that we will ensure a better life for all.

The ANC will emerge as the winner in the elections that will take place next week 22 April.

There are a number of reasons for this:

• Our delivery success record as set out above.
• Our clear policies on social transformation and poverty alleviation, as opposed to that of our political enemies, who feed of the table of our excellent policies.
• Our experience in government.
• Our understanding of the crucially important role that SAPS has to play in the combating of crime.
• Our commitment to rid government of corruption.
• Our understanding of and respect for a constitutional state.
• Our unique view that minorities are a part of the moral majority who will steer this country in the right direction.
• Our total commitment to reconciliation and respect for different cultures, religions and languages.

Allow me to deal with a few other issues now:

No party, movement or organization can survive in the long term when, like COPE, they owe their birthright to the bitterness that rejection brings. Losers do not transform into winners simply because they do not have the courage to carry on fighting the battles in the organizations where they have lost them.

Be careful of a party that shapes the Constitution, human rights and the law in such a way that it suits them, such as the DA has done. Now that they have lost the battle against the ANC President, they are using the very methods that they criticized from highest moral mountains in their attempts to breath life into the matter again. Be aware of wolves cross-dressed as sheep.

I find it morally reprehensible and almost absurd that most of the Opposition parties are silent about the absolutely scandalous behaviour of senior and former senior public sector officials entrusted with taking the most important decisions imaginable about prosecutions. It becomes a very sad day for a country when the perception develops that honest people are not safe because they differ from the presiding political view.

There seems to be a perception developing that some of those entrusted with the safety of our nation utilized the very same, and worse, methods than those they prosecuted. Politicians are elected, not appointed, and when public servants begin serving a political agenda, and its' political master, the very heart of our democracy is in danger.

In politics, as in life, the wheel turns, and I can assure you that both the script and the cast will be added to in this unholy collusion to taint the enemies of those that thought that power is a privilege that will last into eternity.

Lies and half-truths will not survive the test of time. The DA has now accused the ANC of wanting to change the Constitution to ensure that provincial and local governments toe the ANC line in central government.

Allow me the following comments on this issue:

• We do not aim to change the fundamentals of the Constitution in any way;
• We do not aim to change the nature or character of the way in which local governments take their decisions;
• We will, however, do everything in our way to ensure that local governments deliver on their mandates and strive for-and move towards-much more efficient service delivery. We do not apologize for that.

This innuendo by the DA and its' leader-who apparently shies away from entering the National Assembly and the policy debates that will confront her there-sounds and smells to me like the typical "swart gevaar" tactics of the former National Party.

As the ANC we respect the Constitution, as well as leaders who speak some semblance of the truth in the political debates. This is clearly not the case here, and only shows the acceptance by the DA and its' leader that the ANC will have the votes necessary to enact and effect the legal changes, changes it deems necessary to improve service delivery.

We know that a good governments' work is never done and that much more needs to be done in the next five years. We are especially sensitive to the fact that we need to improve and fast-track the quality of health care and education, as well the creation of suitable infrastructure in those two sectors.

Voters have a right to ask what the appropriate policy responses should be in the current challenging economic circumstances. Some of them could be:

• An expanded public works programme.
• An increased focus on the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
• An increase in government spending in education, health and housing infrastructure.
• Reserve Bank consideration of lower interest rates, as has recently been done and will now be done on a monthly basis.
• Promoting external investment and removing internal hurdles to competition.

In all of the above, and other appropriate policy responses, our main aim will be to protect the vulnerable, and to do everything in our power to alleviate poverty.

We need to work diligently with our private sector, regional and international partners to ensure that we define projects that will bring substantive income to replace the losses, jobs and opportunities that the major stakeholders in that and other sectors have suffered.

As I stated during my introduction we, as a country, irrespective of our political persuasions, need to move forward after the elections.

To do so, we need to ensure that the following, as some of the building blocks to our future, are in place:

A sound framework of delivery priorities aimed at alleviating poverty and involving local communities in what we do.

The development of a national agenda of reconciliation, partnerships between all people, and a national identity as a liberated, democratic society.

The protection and involvement of minorities in all spheres of life, and the correction of mistakes we made in this regard in the past.

The improvement of delivery systems at all levels of government.

The rooting out of corruption in all its' shapes and forms.

The improvement of regional cohesion and structures in Southern Africa.

In summary then, in terms of the election and post-election priorities:

• The ANC will win the election and immediately start the business of reshaping and refining delivery.
• We will focus our attention on shorter and smarter avenues of delivery after the elections.
• Economic and social transformation and empowerment remains at the top of the agenda.
• Let's engage each other in a constructive way that does not create lasting bitterness and animosity.
• Let's give all South Africans an opportunity to contribute to our national welfare and identity.
• Let us put every effort into ensuring that we build productive, profitable and job-creating partnerships between government and the private sector in this time of local and global economic challenge.

I urge you to vote for the winners, the ANC, and to join us as partners in persevering with all our energy the goal of a better life for all.

I thank you.

Issued by the African National Congress, April 15 2009

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