Place+the+branch+at+the+centre+of+struggle,+ANC+Today,+070119

ANC Today, Volume 7, No. 2 • 19—25 January 2007

 * //__ANC 95th Anniversary__//**

=Place the branch at the centre of struggle=

The ANC's 95th anniversary was celebrated at a mass rally in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga last weekend with a call to place the ANC branch at the centre of the organisation's programme to mobilise South Africans for the transformation of society.

Presenting the ANC's January 8th Statement, President Thabo Mbeki said all cadres of the movement, wherever they may be located or deployed, needed to be actively involved in the activities of branches.

"We are now calling on all leaders of the organisation, all public representatives, deployees, veterans and former activists to return to undertake work in their branches. All cadres to the branch!" he said.

As the most basic, and most important, structure of the ANC, branches must receive the support and assistance of all levels of the organisation.

The importance of the ANC branch was highlighted in the report of Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe to the 2005 National General Council (NGC): "Fundamentally, our strength as a movement must be assessed by the character and level of organisation of our basic unit, the ANC branch, which is strategically located in the midst of our communities."

"The ANC's leadership of our society rests firmly on our presence in all communities. Our presence and outreach rests on branch structures and where these are non-existent it will be impossible for the ANC to play a meaningful role in the life of the community."

The report highlighted problems in branches across the country, with many merely functioning to the minimum requirements of the ANC constitution. In many branches there were no sustainable political programmes or community campaigns. Some were described as "conflict-ridden and unstable" and engaged in fights over leadership positions, deployment of councillors, tendering and control of projects, and recruitment of membership to serve factional or selfish interests.

It was in response to some of these challenges, and to build on the positive impact of the 2006 local government election campaign, that the Imvuselelo campaign was initiated last year. This campaigns aims to revitalise branches and improve their political activity within communities.

The intensification of this campaign is one of the key tasks of all structures of the ANC during the course of 2007. A handbook has been developed to assist branch members in understanding, planning and implementing all the phases of the campaign.

At the core of the Imvuselelo campaign is regular, structured door-to-door interaction with every household in every ward. This builds on the practice of the last two election campaigns that contributed to far more effective communication and dialogue between ANC structures and communities. This interaction cannot be limited to election time though, but should be a part of an ongoing programme of systematic community involvement.

Through these door-to-door visits branch members are able to identify and record those issues that most concern residents, including problems with local infrastructure and services. Branches are then expected to collate this information, and develop strategies to address common problems.

This requires sound working relationships with ANC ward and PR councillors, to ensure that problems are taken up and that progress is reported back to communities and affected households.

This process should happen alongside the development and implementation of local programmes of action that tackle local issues within the broad national campaigns of the organisation. This requires an active branch, with experienced members with skills in planning, organising and campaigning. Branches should therefore be organising local cadre development programmes to improve both practical skills and political understanding. There also needs to be targeted recruitment and induction of new members to ensure the organisation grows and that new members are quickly and effectively integrated into the political life of the branch.

Branches also need, in line with the mandate received in the 2006 local government elections, to work to ensure the establishment and effective functioning of ward committees. Branches should also work to establish other local development structures that can serve the various needs of communities, and that work together with government structures and agencies in responding to local needs.

"ANC branches need to work to ensure that community members participate in such structures, and that all sections of the community are adequately represented. These structures should neither be seen nor become extensions of the ANC branch."

Branches will be particularly busy in 2007, as they are also expected to prepare for the ANC's 52nd National Conference, taking place in December. Branch delegates, who comprise 90% of voting delegates, need to be empowered to determine the direction of the organisation in line with the views and wishes of the general membership.

Branches will be the starting point for discussions across the organisation on ANC policy, strategy and tactics, and organisational tasks and challenges.

As indicated in the January 8th Statement: "Our branches are uniquely positioned to reflect on which organisational strategies are most effective at grassroots level, and what policies and programmes have the greatest impact on the lives of the people. The branch is therefore the site from which the interaction of theory and practice is best observed."


 * From: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/2007/at02.htm#art1**

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