ANC+National+Executive+Committee+Statement,+20+January+2008



=African National Congress NEC Statement=


 * ANC NEC, 20 January 2008**

The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) held its annual Lekgotla on 19-20 January 2008, preceded by an ordinary meeting of the NEC on 18 January.

In addition to NEC members, the Lekgotla was attended by ANC deployees in national government and parliament, representatives of the leagues, Alliance partners and ANC headquarters staff.

The central task of the Lekgotla was to develop and finalise the ANC's programme of action for 2008, giving effect to the resolutions of the ANC 52nd National Conference held in December last year.

The Lekgotla also considered the relationship between the constitutional structures of the ANC and its deployees in government and in the legislatures, focusing in particular on how the resolutions of Conference are to be implemented, monitored and evaluated.

The Lekgotla confirmed the long-established principle that the ANC is the strategic political centre that directs and guides its deployees in various centres.

The meeting reiterated that there should not be any apprehension about relations between the ANC and its government, echoing what the NEC said in the January 8th Statement: "We are aware of the responsibility to ensure smooth working relations, and we cannot fail the nation in this regard."

The meeting was determined that certain claims circulating about the relationship between ANC and government - and between the ANC President and the President of the Republic - be firmly dispelled. The Lekgotla was unanimous that all leaders of the movement, whether in the NEC or not, would continue to act in a manner that reinforces the confidence of the masses of our people in pursuing the goals the organisation has set itself.

The Lekgotla discussed mechanisms to ensure ongoing interaction and consultation between ANC constitutional structures and deployees in government. It agreed that the NEC's policy sub-committees should play a leading role in this regard; that the ANC's policy-making and implementation capacity should be significantly strengthened through, among other things, the operationalisation of the Policy Institute; and that the ANC should, as required, convene summits of all components of the democratic movement on particular development issues.

The bulk of the work of the Lekgotla was dedicated to the practical implementation of the resolutions of the Polokwane Conference, and the assignment of tasks and responsibilities to the structures of the ANC, government and legislatures respectively.


 * Building Organisation**

The meeting adopted a programme of action on the Conference mandate to significantly increase the membership of the ANC; improve the political grounding of all ANC members; engage in mass campaigns that address the needs and interests of our people; and equip structures to provide political direction to deployees in government and other sectors.

Over the course of the year, a number of priority activities will take place. These include grassroots campaigns on education, health, crime and energy. We will convene an Alliance Summit, among other things, to develop a common programme of action in line with the conferences of our respective organisations.

A number of ANC structures will be holding their AGMs and conferences during this period, during which the new period for terms of office will be introduced. Work will continue to establish the Policy Institute and Political School.


 * Economic Transformation**

The Lekgotla adopted an ANC programme for popular mobilisation for socio-economic transformation around:


 * the creation of jobs and decent work
 * the energy crisis
 * food prices and food insecurity
 * rural development, land reform and agrarian change
 * local development

The issue of food prices was identified as a major priority. A range of measures, including the full use of competition policy and a pro-active stance by the Competition Commission, other government interventions and popular mobilisation, will be needed to ensure that food-price escalation is addressed to achieve our socio-economic goals.

The Lekgotla discussed the challenge of generating sufficient power to meet the country's expanding requirements, and expressed concern at the load shedding that has recently affected all parts of the country.

The meeting noted the massive investment being made in generation capacity which will enable South Africa to meet the needs of a growing economy well into the future. Recognising, however, that it will be some time before this capacity comes on line, the Lekgotla recommended that government urgently develop a national response plan, whose single minded focus is to keep the electricity flowing.

The plan should aim to implement an electricity conservation programme, which will move the nation towards more efficient energy utilisation and prevent a negative impact on the economy, our people and our agenda for growth and development.


 * Education and Health**

The Lekgotla reinforced the Conference resolution that education and health be placed at the centre of our social transformation priorities for the next five years.

The ANC will therefore be embarking on a broad mass campaign focusing on improving access to quality education for all. This would include a significant increase in resources going to education; improvement of school infrastructure; the adoption of a set of non-negotiables by teachers, parents, students, managers, and other role players.

Similar steps will be taken to ensure the prioritisation of health. These include an increase in resources and visible leadership at the highest level; undertaking specific campaigns on issues like the reduction of the cost of accessing health care; and progress on the development of a national health insurance.

The Lekgotla assigned a number of tasks with respect to other areas of social transformation. These included the accelerated development of integrated human settlements, the implementation of integrated youth development strategy, the role of culture, heritage and sport in promoting social cohesion, water resource allocation, and the investigation into the establishment of a women's ministry.


 * Peace and Stability**

The Lekgotla agreed the fight against crime should be a priority for all ANC members and structures, and called on members to participate in Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and Community Safety Forums (CSFs), revive street committees, and run campaigns on peace and stability issues. These programmes must be linked with the Moral Regeneration Programmes, and other social crime prevention campaigns in collaboration with NGOs.

The Lekgotla confirmed that members of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) performing policing functions must be absorbed into the South African Police Service (SAPS) by June 2008. State and Governance

The Lekgotla agreed that during 2008, the organisation would work to strengthen the electoral system by enhancing links between people and public representatives; support the repeal of floor-crossing legislation and encourage public representatives of other parties to join the ANC; continue work towards the establishment of a single public service; support ongoing work to transform the judiciary; and participate in a review of provincial and local government.


 * Media and the Battle of Ideas**

The Lekgotla confirmed that the ANC must intensify its engagement with all sectors to promote the transformation of the media to reflect the diversity, interests and perspectives of South African society; and to facilitate the free flow of ideas and information, with due respect to the rights and dignity of all South Africans.

Particular attention needs to be paid to the growth and development of a sustainable community media sector. The meeting called for the development of a broad-based black economic empowerment charter for the print media industry, and for the continued transformation of the advertising industry.

It agreed to review the funding model of the public broadcaster to establish the optimal balance between public funding and other revenue sources, and, on this basis, progressively increase the level of public funding to the SABC.

The NEC Communications sub-committee will soon set up a task team to investigate the establishment of a Media Appeal Tribunal, which would strengthen, complement and support existing institutions.


 * International Relations**

The Lekgotla agreed to provide whatever support necessary to the forthcoming conference of the Pan African Women's Organisation (PAWO), taking place in South Africa in February. The ANC will promote Africa Day, on 25 May, as a rallying point for the development and integration of the African continent. The ANC will remain seized with the challenge of resolving conflicts on the continent, and strengthen relations with other parties in Africa in pursuit of a progressive continental agenda.

The ANC will support activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the battle of Cuito Cuanavale.


 * Way forward**

The programme emerging from the Lekgotla, together with the resolutions of Conference, will be circulated to all ANC structures, caucuses and all deployees in the coming weeks.

The Lekgotla concluded its work determined that the energy, capacity and efforts of all ANC cadres, deployees and members should be dedicated during the course of 2008 to the central and critical task of addressing the needs of all South Africans.


 * Issued by: National Executive Committee, African National Congress**
 * More information: Tiyani Rikhotso 079 879 7974**


 * From: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/pr/2008/pr0120.html**

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