ANC statement on the NEC meeting and NEC Lekgola

4 February 2013

The African National Congress held a one day NEC meeting on the (30th January 2013) and it was followed by a two day NEC Lekgotla meeting (31st January - 1 st February 2013), at the Saint George Hotel in Irene, Tshwane. The NEC Lekgotla was attended by the ANC NEC members, ANC Leagues, Alliance partners, ANC Ministers and Deputy Ministers, ANC Premiers, Heads of Departments of National Government, leaders of National Parliament, the NCOP and ANC Caucus.

The NEC meeting received the President's overview which focused on the need to ensure that the ANC does everything in its power to improve the quality of life of our people through an economic radical shift that de-racialises the economy thus ensuring that all South Africans play a meaningful role in it. The overview emphasis was also on the need to focus and mainstream youth employment. It also emphasized the importance of the ANC being able to monitor government performance so as to avoid mandate drifts. The overview also emphasized the importance of continuous and effective communication by both the ANC and its government specifically on our progressive policies, programmes and achievements.

The NEC meeting received reports from the NWC on issues pertaining to the meeting with the National Working Committee of the ANCYL. On the issue of the ANCYL a report was presented to the effect that ANCYL has been directed submit in writing how mistakes committed in the past can be corrected. The National Officials of the ANC will have another meeting with the ANCYL to take the matter forward.

The meeting endorsed the proposed names of three NEC Sub-Committees which are:

National Deployment Committee

• Cyril Ramaphosa (Chairperson)
• Jessie Duarte
• Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele
• Ngoako Ramatlhodi
• Collins Chabane
• Sdumo Dlamini
• Lindiwe Sisulu
• Sisisi Tolashe
• Rob Davies
• Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
• Ronald Lamola

Drafting Committee

• Jeff Radebe (Chairperson)
• Lindiwe Zulu
• Ayanda Dlodlo
• Joel Netshitenzhe
• Fikile Majola
• Lindiwe Sisulu
• Rob Davies Angie Motshega

Constitutional Affairs

• Collins Chabane (Chairperson)
• Derek Hanekom
• Nomvula Mokonyane
• Fikile Xhasa
• Pinky Moloi

The NEC discussed and adopted the lekgotla programme which emphasized the need for practical work to be done within the next twelve months in pursuit of the 5 year mandate that started in 2009 - 2014. This mandate provided the five priorities that entail; economic growth and job creation, fighting crime and corruption, Education, Health and rural development and land reform.

It also emphasized that the Lekgotla outcomes must reflect on some of the programmatic issues that came out of the National Conference and January 8 statement. The NEC agreed that the Lekgotla must reflect the commitment to make 2013 ‘The year of Unity in Action towards Socio-Economic Freedom'. It also premised the Lekgotla in the framework of the National Development Plan.

In ensuring that the government takes its cue from the ANC and that government work relate to ANC policy, it was agreed that the Lekgotla will outline areas of work that need urgent attention. In this regard, the ANC NEC Sub-committee worked in Commissions to ensure that all priority areas for government work are covered.

The NEC also received presentations on the ANC policy priorities, government performance and the current fiscal outlook and the economy. These presentation were key to foregrounding our discussions and debates on real challenges and clear policy directives. These presentations were also key to ensuring that commissions are realistic in their discussions and ultimately generate practical proposals.

The NEC Lekgotla was successful in addressing the three main areas that were targeted as outputs of the Lekgotla. These were; job creation, youth development and growing the economy. In this regard a number of clear proposals were presented by various Commissions. The Lekgotla reflected on the potential of all sectors of the economy generating substantial jobs, empowerment of the youth and effective monitoring of all the targets that have been set.

All commissions that focused on specific policy areas managed to identify crucial job opportunities that straddle the entire economy. These jobs are located in all sectors of the economy. The Lekgotla also adopted a decision that all work done by these sectors must be closely monitored to ensure delivery of the identified jobs and youth development opportunities. In this regard, the ANC's monitoring capacity will be strengthened to ensure that national, provincial and local government are all subjected to stringent monitoring.

The Lekgotla resolved that the ANC should sharpen its processes to expeditiously deal with disciplinary matters so as to protect the integrity of the ANC.

The Lekgotla came up with solid and implementable proposals on youth employment and development. It emphasized that employment is a prerequisite for full participation in the economic and social life by young people. It broadly supported the idea of the Youth Employment Support and Incentive Schemes.

These would broadly cover providing youth with well-supervised opportunities to practice skilled work such as the various forms of on the job training. These schemes will target young people marginalized from labour force participation, unemployed young graduates and students in higher education that need to complement formal study with practical work. To this end, an urgent meeting was held this morning with Cosatu on issues relating to youth employment incentive schemes.

On the infrastructure role out, whilst the Lekgotla appreciates the budget set aside for infrastructural roll out as a means to create jobs and to build the economy, the Lekgotla believes that infrastructure investment provides government with unparalleled opportunity to promote economic stimulus and to focus investment on projects with long term benefits. The State of the Nation ddress, will be able in this regard, to inform all of us with progress made.

On the issue of land reform, the Lekgotla reiterated that accelerating reform must be on the top priorities of government. Thus the pace of land reform needs to be accelerated, while balancing that with development for food security.

On fighting crime and corruption, the Lekgotla endorsed this area as one of our continuing priorities. The Lekgotla enjoined the leadership of our movement to speedily establish the integrity commission. It also directed the state to find ways and implementable means as a matter of urgency to deal with the twin phenomenon of violent strikes and violent community protests.

On the issue of education and health, the Lekgotla re-affirmed education as our number one priority. The Lekgotla prioritized the importance of school infrastructure development and as well as stability in the sector. The Lekgotla also agreed that a mechanism to monitor all round accountability in the sector should be devised as a matter of urgency. As number one priority, the ANC and its government will leave no stone unturned in making education an essential service.

On the issue of health, the Lekgotla agreed on the need to expedite the full implementation of NHI. It also agreed on the need for measures to strengthen the management capacity, systems and protocols to ensure better quality of services and improved performance of the health system.

The ANC welcomes and is encouraged by the decisive steps taken by the department of Health in the Eastern Cape to investigate fraud and corruption in the department. The steps taken by the Eastern Provincial government in this regard, is in keeping with the ANC's commitment to eradicate and uproot any form of corruption both in the public and private sector. We encourage other departments at all levels of government to emulate the decisive and anti-fraud and corruption stance by the provincial government.

Statement issued by Gwede Mantashe, ANC Secretary General, February 4 2013

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