LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
We achieved a lot together
The country appeared to be on the knife-edge then due to the intensity of the conference build up. The conference ended peacefully and successfully. That was a strong indication of the ability of South Africans to work together to successfully overcome their challenges in a peaceful manner, even more so in the ANC. >>> MORE

Statement of the National Executive Committee
ANC gears up to attain victory in the upcoming 2009 election
The African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) which met over two days from 17 - 18 December 2008 at Essellen Park, discussed in detail the campaign it will engage to decisively return the ANC into government by a sizable majority after the 2009 elections. >>> MORE

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

We achieved a lot together

It is one year since our eventful 52nd national conference in Polokwane. The country appeared to be on the knife-edge then due to the intensity of the conference build up. This demonstrated that the ANC is a major political factor in our country, if it is divided so does the society.

Many people expected the worst, which exposed the fact that some have not come to understand the ANC and its culture. The climate at the conference was filled with tension, the whole world watched in anxiety, convinced that the South African dream was turning into a nightmare. Instead they saw democracy in action. The conference ended peacefully and successfully. That was a strong indication of the ability of South Africans to work together to successfully overcome their challenges in a peaceful manner, even more so in the ANC.

ANC delegates in Polokwane discussed robustly, and produced resolutions, which will guide the ANC in government in the next five years. They decided that we should put more emphasis on job creation, fighting crime, improvement of healthcare services, education, development of rural infrastructure and agricultural reform.

The delegates were clearly in touch with the masses as that is exactly what we have been told in the road shows we conducted in all nine provinces. From Mogale City to eMsinga to eBhayi to Mangaung to Polokwane to Kimberly, to Rusternburg to Mitchell's Plain to Nelspruit - our people complemented us on what our government and our organisation have done well in many areas, but pointed out the slow pace of service delivery in other areas, especially at the local government level.

They complained about corruption in tendering processes, perceived or real, depending on each case. This was a common theme everywhere we went. We undertook to deal with these problems. Our Manifesto has been enriched by the contributions by our people including by My ANC. My Vision. My Future campaign. We have listened and we will respond with clear action in the new administration to deal with all matters they raised in a comprehensive and detailed manner.

We are passionate about the need to fight corruption in government, especially as this reflects negatively on the ruling party. We are debating a number of remedies, ranging from ensuring that politicians stay far away from tendering processes, to the need to close possibilities for administrators as well to interfere with the processes. Our Manifesto will certainly deal with this challenge. The ANC will lead the fight against crime and corruption, in partnership with the people who will assist through whistle blowing and other means.

The advantage is that we are charting the way forward laid on a firm foundation, as the country has done exceptionally well during the last 15 years, due to the active participation and contribution of all South Africans. As we prepare for the 2009 elections, we are mindful of what we still need to focus on. Our Manifesto will spell out our achievable goals and commitments to the electorate.

Some countries will bore the full brunt of the financial crisis. In South Africa we have experienced at least part of the financial shock. Our exchange rate has depreciated sharply and the prices of our equities and bonds have fallen far. Yet our sound and well-regulated banking system is not dependent on foreign lines of credit and our exposure to toxic assets has been nearly non-existent. Our public debt levels are low and our level of foreign currency debt is even lower. This has helped to lower our vulnerability to financial shocks. Thanks to our sound and resilient economic policies.

With the support of all South Africans, we will be able to continue on our path to take the country forward. We have since 1994 managed to create a nation out of the divisions of apartheid, as South Africans. The 15-year-old nation has proved resilient, and has survived many challenges that would have caused havoc in other countries. That is because it is built on a solid foundation, our country's Constitution.

There is nothing that needs changing in South Africa's Constitution and the ANC poses no threat to the Constitution. We must work harder to promote and advance the Constitution guarantees to all our people, be they the poor, workers, professionals, senior citizens or youth so that we all appreciate the Constitutional democracy we live in.

We must appreciate and promote the Chapter 9 institutions, which are designed to provide further protection to our people in terms of the Constitution. We must also promote respect for the independence of the judiciary, prosecuting authorities and all instruments of our legal system. Granted, we do sometimes feel some of these institutions do not act in a fair manner they are intended to do.

We urge ANC members to be guarded in their criticisms, especially of the judiciary, as un-informed comments may be more damaging to an institution which should actually protect us all from one another, and from other arms of the State when the need arises. The judiciary, like other South African institutions, should be aware of the need for urgent transformation.

We also acknowledge our joint success in building a non-racial democracy since 1994. Some people may point out the odd racist incidents and say we have not achieved the non-racial democracy we aim for. We disagree. We have gone very far in creating and promoting a non-racial culture in our country. We cannot eradicate prejudice in just a few years, but we have laid the firm foundation against which there is no point of return.

The outrage by all races that accompanies racist incidents such as those in the Free State or Skielik clearly indicates that the standards have been set and no deviation will be tolerated. Moving forward to 2009, we must go further in promoting national unity and non-racialism in our homes, work, schools, churches, sports, arts and culture and all aspects of our lives.

We need to work further on improving attitudes towards people from other countries. We must strive for a society that is free of xenophobia and other intolerances. We were shocked and outraged by the attacks on Africans from other parts of the continent early this year. We were beneficiaries of African solidarity. We lived in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and other countries and were never called names. We were treated with respect, dignity and empathy.

We take note of the changing political environment with the emergence of new political parties, from breakaways from the liberation movements, the ANC, PAC and the black consciousness formations. The country's Constitution enshrines freedom of association and assembly. We urge ANC members to work professionally with all opposition parties, old and new, in all relevant forums, especially leading up to the elections.

We must make the 2009 elections as peaceful, free and fair as all previous elections. We urge tolerance, understanding and patriotism amongst all our people, from all political parties. We must put South Africa first. The ANC must not be found wanting in this regard.

We have a good track record, a good programme of action and a dedicated team that is ready to work with our people to improve the quality of life of all. We will be continuing with our road shows around the country, listening to South Africans and learning from their wisdom on what we should do better.

Our overwhelming practical national experience during the year that is about to close, whatever the few negatives that might have raised their ugly head, in partnership with our people, we are firmly on course towards the realisation of the goal of a better life for all.

We wish all our people a wonderful festive season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. Let all of us respond to the appeal to not drink and drive - Drive Safely, and Arrive Alive!

Statement of the National Executive Committee

ANC gears up to attain victory in the upcoming 2009 election

The African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) which met over two days from 17 - 18 December 2008 at Essellen Park, discussed in detail the campaign it will engage to decisively return the ANC into government by a sizable majority after the 2009 elections.

An overview into the ANC provincial structure's readiness to manage a successful election for the organisation has revealed that out of the nine provinces, the structure that needed beefing up was the Western Cape. The NEC has decided to send a team of senior cadres to strengthen the leadership in that province. The NEC also decided to withdraw its application to the Constitutional Court in respect of the decision to exclude the ANC from the by-elections held in the Western Cape on the 10th of December 2008. The NEC also decided not appeal or further challenge the registration of the name Congress of the people.

The ANC will - instead - use its resources to fight the 2009 elections in the Western Cape, determined to win the province and to ensure that the Western Cape has a definite programme to set it on course in a direction to eradicate the abject poverty that many people in the Cape Town Metro City and other areas find themselves. The eradication of poverty remains a major national objective of the ANC.

The character of the election campaign that the ANC will embark on, will be dominated by door-to-door work and direct information on the gains made in the past 15 years as well as how existing challenges will be managed going forward. All NEC members and all candidates will campaign vigorously for an overwhelming ANC victory in next year's elections.

The ANC demands the highest level of discipline from all its cadres during these forthcoming elections. The legacy of the ANC is one which we are confident of and our vision is one which speaks to building on our gains and dealing pragmatically and decisively with the challenges our nation faces.

The NEC discussed the list process currently underway in all the structures of the ANC and reaffirmed the ANC's policy perspective that the nominees to the national list and the nominees to the provincial lists must reflect the demography of South Africa. The ANC wants to ensure a non-racial representation and adhere to the decision to have 50% of all ANC nominees being women, deployment of disabled people and retention of experience built over the last 15 years.

All provincial list conferences will be concluded by the 11th of January 2009 and the National list Conference will be held on the 16 to 18 of January 2009. The provincial conferences must quarate with no less than 70% of branches in good standing represented by delegates from branches in good standing and holding successful Branch General Meetings (BGMs).

The NEC received a presentation on the ANC's Manifesto for the 2009 elections. The NEC took note of the fact that the call to the public to make recommendations received an overwhelming response and reconfirmed the views of ANC delegates at Polokwane that the most urgent priorities in our country are: job creation, fighting crime, improvement of healthcare services, education, development of rural infrastructure and agricultural reform.

The NEC also analysed the representation of its views in the media and concluded that the ANC was best placed to take its message directly to the electorate as well as through the media.

The NEC observed a moment of silence in memory of the late comrade Elizabeth "Nana" Abrahams, a stalwart of the liberation movement in the Western Cape. She was an ANC Member of Parliament until 2002 when she retired. She passed away last night at the age of 83.

The NEC discussed the situation in Zimbabwe and the dire straits of her people as well as the impact of the situation in Zimbabwe on the plight of South Africans, particularly those living in Messina and other border towns.

The reality of the cholera pandemic in Zimbabwe is affecting our own population and the lack of facilities in Messina where hundreds of people are escaping the disease and seeking much needed health care is fast stressing the capability of our own health institutions.

We will continue to support the South African Government's decision to provide health care and any other humanitarian aid to the people of Zimbabwe. However, the time for hoping for change must come to an end. Neither the people of South Africa nor the people of Zimbabwe deserve the devastation that the political deadlock is creating.

The reported cases of abductions and detentions without trial, tests the very fabric of the liberation we fought for in this region of Africa. We call on the political leaders in Zimbabwe to stop the infighting and put the people first.

ANC JANUARY 2009 CALENDAR

• Door-to-door work in all provinces. All hands on deck until election day
• Manifesto launch on 10 January at ABSA Stadium in East London
• Provincial list conference processes to be concluded by 15 January 2009
• National list conference to be held on 18-19 January 2009
• ANC Lekgotla to be held on 29-31 January 2009