Introspection,+renewal+strengthens+movement,+ANC+Today

ANC Today, Volume 7, No. 11. 23-29 March 2007

 * __Organisational Review__**

=Introspection and renewal strengthens democratic movement=

The ANC's capacity for frank introspection and political renewal have helped ensure its growth and development over the last 95 years. This is the basic premise of an 'Organisational Review' discussion document released this week as part of preparations for the ANC's 52nd National Conference in December.

It is one of a series of documents, covering various policy areas, that are being distributed to ANC structures to stimulate and guide deliberations over the next few months to inform, firstly, the National Policy Conference in June, and, secondly, the National Conference in December.

Arising from a decision of the ANC National General Council in 2005, the discussion document is the outcome of a review process that has placed all ANC structures, processes and systems under the microscope.

The document observes that few movements can show such a consistent record of triumph over adversity, spanning a period of almost a century. The ANC now enjoys the overwhelming confidence of the masses as a trusted leader and loyal servant of the people in the ongoing struggle to build a better life for all.

"This remarkable success of the movement is not a result of sheer luck. Along the way, major setbacks and obstacles had to be overcome by men and women who were prepared to make supreme sacrifices to turn the ANC into what it is today. The movement has consciously developed unique features that have enabled it to overcome all the challenges it has encountered in its history."

These features are the main source of the ANC's enormous capacity for internal resilience and self-renewal: "They are its internal defence mechanism that has seen the movement grow from strength to strength, always able to adapt to radical changes in the domestic and global environment. The ANC has been able to adapt to change while maintaining its primary mission and character as the principal mobiliser and unifier of the motive forces and a loyal servant of the people. The interests of the people, especially the working class and the poor, constitute the starting point and fundamental goal of ANC policy."

The approach in the discussion document is meant to build on the ability of the ANC to adapt to changing conditions while remaining loyal to its principal objectives.

The document analyses the strengths and weaknesses of all ANC components, beginning with the membership and going through each level of the organisation - branch, sub-region/zone, region, province and national. It also looks at the Women's League and Youth League, and at the organisation of veterans. The document discusses the role and operation of the Alliance and mass democratic movement, and the ANC's relationship with broader civil society.

A number of over-arching issues, covering key organisational programmes and activities, are also examined. These include political education, management of governance, policy development and evaluation, political communication and international work. It also discusses issues like discipline and ethical conduct, funding, election of leadership and organisational management.

For each area, based on an assessment of strengths and weaknesses, a number of recommendations are suggested for consideration by ANC structures. Some of these recommendations restate previous decisions that have yet to be implemented, or urge that some existing practices be intensified and improved. Others, if adopted, will require constitutional or other structural changes.

Among the recommendations suggested in the document are that:


 * the full amount of the membership fee should be allocated to branches;
 * the term of office of the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) should be extended to two years;
 * consideration should be given to expanding the role of the sub-region to coordinate organisational work in branches and oversee the work of the ANC in local municipalities;
 * the composition of the National Executive Committee (NEC) should be reviewed to enable members to do more work in branches and sectors, ensure members are drawn from the various sections of the motive forces and centres of authority, and reflect an appropriate gender balance and generational mix;
 * the ANC should set up a Veterans' League to organise all members over 60 years of age with at least 40 years of uninterrupted service to the struggle;
 * the ANC Political School and Policy Institute be established as a priority;
 * all cadres elected into constitutional structures and those deployed to the state, the economy, the arena for the battle of ideas and civil society need to go through political classes;
 * the deployment of premiers and mayors be finalised after consultation with the relevant constitutional structure in the province and region;
 * the prerogative of the President, premiers and mayors to appoint and release members of cabinet, executive councils and mayoral committees is exercised after consultation with the leadership of the organisation;
 * the National Policy Conference should also be a consultative body for the development of the ANC election manifesto, subject to final ratification and adoption by the NEC;
 * the ANC should champion the introduction of a comprehensive system of public funding of representative political parties in the different spheres of government and civil society organisations. This includes putting in place an effective regulatory architecture for private funding of political parties and civil society groups to enhance accountability and transparency to the citizenry.

The document concludes by saying: "Whatever views we may have on the specific proposals that are being made, the ultimate objective should be to ensure that the movement becomes even stronger as it approaches its Centenary so that it deal with new challenges during its Second Century of its existence. This is the spirit within which all the proposals are being made. We hereby invite all cadres to join in the festival of ideas about the fundamental challenge of strengthening our movement so that it remains a trusted leader, loyal servant of the people and an agent for change."

Organisational Review Discussion Document, March 2007 http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/discussion/2007/review.html
 * MORE INFORMATION:**


 * From: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/2007/at11.htm#art1**

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