STATEMENT OF THE ANC NORTH-WEST PROVINCIAL WORKING COMMITTEE HELD IN MATLOSANA

02 August 2013

Greetings

Yesterday, the 01 August 2013, the North West Provincial Working Committee met in its ordinary meeting in Matlosana, Kenneth Kaunda region. The meeting considered amongst others; the review of the Setsokotsane Programme; our preparedness for the forthcoming by- elections that will be taking place next week, the 7th of August in various wards around the province; granting of the freedom of Ramotshere Moiloa to President Jacob Zuma; the hosting of the Provincial General Council and the ANC Provincial Lekgotla; finally issues relating to Reconciliation, healing and Renewal, particularly recent developments in Tlokwe, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Greater Taung Local Municipality and others.

On the Setsokotsane Programme

The PWC commended the good work that has been done thus far through the Setsokotsane Programme. This programme took the leadership of the ANC closer to its constituencies. This programme assisted both members of the communities and the ANC to take stock of service delivery progress and challenges in various parts of our province. The programme has been designed as a two way programme that seeks to bring closer the leadership of the ANC and government to the people of the North West province. The programme will continue with its work every Monday visiting various areas on our province. The programme will be intensified to ensure that there is no region and sub region of our province that won't be visited by both the leadership of the ANC and government.

On the ANC Preparedness for the forthcoming by elections

Our election machinery is well prepared and oiled for the forthcoming by elections in all the wards that we will be contesting by-elections. Regardless of the setback we experience in Tlokwe this week as a result of the outcomes of the Tlokwe court judgment, the ANC was not defocus by this development; we continued to intensify our efforts to mobilize ANC members and supports in Tlokwe for the forthcoming by-elections. In other regions the ANC is content that we will emerge victorious as well. The people of North West know the good work that the ANC continues to do to better their lives on a day-to-day basis. Our people will vindicate us next week and moving forward by ensuring our overwhelming victory during these by elections and during next year national and provincial elections. We will be building on our victor in this by elections to prepare for the national and provincial elections.

On granting freedom of Ramotshere Moiloa to President Jacob Zuma

Progress has been noted in preparing for an event leading to the granting of the ANC and South Africa President , President Jacob Zuma, the freedom of Ramotsere Moiloa. This activity will be during the month of the President's birthday or at the time when he was arrested at Ramotsere Moiloa by the apartheid government. This is an exciting initiative by the ANC and will brief members of the media continuously about the developments.

On the Provincial General Council and Provincial Lekgotla

The ANC in North West province is excited and ready to host its Provincial General Council and the Provincial Lekgotla simultaneously. The Provincial Working Committee has decided to host these activities from the 31 August to 2 September 2013. Registration will take place Friday, 31 August and the PGC will precede the ANC Provincial Lekgotla. The venue will be announced in due course.

On Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal

The ANC in North West will continue to promote unity within its ranks and amongst the people of the North West. We emphasised the importance of unity last year when we celebrated the centenary of our glorious movement.

Indeed unity is the rock upon which the ANC was founded, as President Mandela pointed out in a message sent to the ANC conference in Kabwe, Zambia in 1985. All members must guard this unity jealously.

The ANC must continue to vigorously adhere to the principles of unity, selfless service, collective leadership, democratic centralism, internal debates, humility, honesty, hard work, constructive criticism and self-criticism, discipline and mutual respect.

To maintain these core values, the movement will continue prioritising organisational discipline and eradicate the alien tendencies that have crept into our movement over the years.

These include factionalism, the violent disruption of our meetings and attacking other members, public spats and unauthorised public utterances, the use of money to buy members, gatekeeping and the manipulation of ANC processes for pre-determined outcomes.

We drew a line against ill-discipline at the National General Council in 2010. Anyone who crosses that line will face the consequences. The Integrity Committee was established to promote ethics within the movement and such ethics must be religious be followed by all members of the ANC deployed in various structures within the ANC and in government.

We call on all ANC members to subject themselves to the discipline of the ANC. The ANC is the leader of society and our behaviour must always be beyond reproach.

We call on all members to strengthen all the structures of the movement and promote unity within the Alliance as we pursue socio-economic freedom. The structures of the ANC and partners should continue playing their respective role in advancing the NDR.

As we approaching the by-elections next week and beyond, we remind our members that any member of the ANC that joins or support a political organisation or party, other than an organisation in alliance with the ANC, and any member behaving in a manner contrary to the ANC, in a manner contrary to the aims, objectives and policy of the ANC or stand in an election for local, provincial or national government or acting as the election agent or canvasser of a person standing in such election for any political party and in opposition to a candidate duly endorsed by the NEC or PEC, such a member has expelled himself or herself from the ANC.

The leadership of the North West province will be meeting all its deployees in Ngaka Modiri Molema Municipality, Greater Taung Municipality, Ramotsere Moiloa Municipalities and other municipalities were the PWC decision is taken.

We will therefore communicate such decision to the public when all affected structures have been fully informed of the PWC decisions. All that we can confirm at the moment is that the ANC in North West will act and act decisively on any ill discipline that might be seen to be perpetuated by ANC deployees.

We wish all the woman of our province and South Africa as a whole a progressive women's month. We urge all mass democratic movement in our province to support the activities of the ANC Women's League that will be taking place throughout this month.

I gama lama khosikazi Malibongwe.

Statement issued by Gordon Kegakilwe ANC Acting North West Provincial Secretary, August 2 2013

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