ANC+Conference,+Constitution,+and+NEC+Report,+19+November+2007



=ANC Conference, Constitution, and NEC Report=


 * 19 November 2007**

//Statement of the ANC National Executive Committee//

The ANC National Executive Committee held a regular scheduled meeting on 16-18 November 2007 in Ekurhuleni.

The meeting was the last regular meeting of the NEC before the ANC 52nd National Conference in December. The NEC agreed however to hold a special meeting before the conference to further discuss issues for inclusion in the NEC's report to conference.

The meeting received a report on preparations for the conference. It was satisfied that preparations were on track and that the University of Limpopo in Polokwane would be ready to host this important from 16-20 December.
 * CONFERENCE PREPARATIONS**

Among the matters considered by the NEC were:


 * Conference programme, which will open on 16 December with the presentation of the President's political report, the Secretary General's organisational report and the Treasurer General's financial report. The conference will close on the morning of 20 December with the adoption of the conference declaration and the closing address by the incoming ANC President.
 * Conference Credentials, in terms of which there will be approximately 5,000 participants, consisting of 4,075 voting delegates, 425 non-voting delegates, 130 observers, and 300 guests.
 * Accommodation, which will include over 4,000 beds in University of Limpopo residences, and almost 500 rooms in hotels in and around Polokwane for guests, observers, veterans and staff.
 * Venues, which includes the erection of a marquee with a capacity of 5,000 in which all plenary sessions will be held, 14 commission venues, a media centre and various other operational offices.

The NEC noted the hard work that has been underway for several months to ensure that the conference - the largest in the ANC's history - will be a success.

The NEC considered a number of proposals for amendments to the ANC Constitution. Most of the proposals arose from the outcome of discussion at the June Policy Conference on 'Organisational Renewal'. These proposals have been distributed to ANC structures for consideration ahead of conference.
 * CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS**

Among the key amendments proposed are for:


 * a quota of not less than fifty percent (50%) of women in all elected structures;
 * the establishment of ANC Veterans League, open to all ANC members 60 years of age or older, who have served the ANC and the movement over an unbroken period of 40 years;
 * either the retention of the current number of additional NEC members at 60 or the expansion of the number of NEC additional members to 80 or 90;
 * the inclusion of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) in the Constitution as an association reporting to the Secretary General;
 * the extension of the term of office of Provincial Executive Committees (PECs) from 3 to 4 years, Regional Executive Committees (RECs) from 2 to 3 years, and Branch Executive Committees (BECs) from 1 to 2 years.
 * the appointment of a National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA), from among the NEC and other structures of the ANC, to hear any appeals that may arise from decisions of the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).

The complete set of proposals for constitutional amendments will be available from the ANC website (www.anc.org.za) within the next two days.

The NEC conducted a political assessment of the key achievements and challenges of the organisation over the last five years, and, in this regard, the performance of the NEC itself.
 * NEC REPORT TO CONFERENCE**

The meeting agreed that there had been significant progress in the transformation of South Africa society over this period and important gains in improving the standing and popularity of the ANC among the people. However, it also acknowledged important challenges and shortcomings, including with respect to the operation and coherence of the NEC.

The meeting agreed that these matters will be among those reflected in the political and organisational reports to conference.


 * More information: Smuts Ngonyama 082 994 2112**


 * From: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/pr/2007/pr1119.html**

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