27 January 2008
ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee held a Lekgotla from the 25th to 27th January 2008, to reflect on key organisational priorities and developments within the organization and to outline priorities and programmes, in advancing the goal of building a caring society in 2008 and in the period leading up to the centenary of the ANC in 2012.
The Lekgotla was attended by members of the PEC, NEC deployees, the Premier, MEC's, Office Bearers of Regions, Leagues, MKMVA and the Alliance, Mayors and Heads of Departments in the Provincial Government.
The Lekgotla took place immediately after the 96th anniversary of the birth of our movement on the 8th January 2008, where the ANC NEC declared "The Year of Mass Mobilisation to Build a Caring Society".
The PEC congratulated the branches, regions and members of the ANC in Gauteng on the successful mobilization and massive turnout at the anniversary rally in Atteridgeville on 12 January 2008.
The PEC warmly congratulated the newly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) which was democratically elected at the 52nd National Conference in Limpopo.
The PEC also congratulated PEC members who had been elected to the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) and welcomed to the Lekgotla NEC deployees to the province.
The Lekgotla commenced with a political overview, presented by the Provincial Chairperson, which focused on priorities in the year ahead following the tenth Provincial Conference in Midrand in October 2007 as well as the 52nd National Conference in Polokwane, Limpopo in December 2007.
The political overview drew from deliberations of the NEC, NEC Lekgotla and Provincial Working Committee, based on the resolutions of the two conferences as well as the January 8th NEC Statement.
Commissions at the lekgotla met to discuss the Provincial Programme of Action for the year ahead.
On the electricity emergency situation
The PEC discussed the challenge of electricity blackouts. We noted the outcomes of the Cabinet decisions on the interventions to resolve the challenge. In this regard the PEC agreed on embarking on an Energy Saving Campaign. The PEC agreed that the ANC in in Gauteng would conduct a campaign in this regard. A Provincial Forum to deal with the electricity emergency will be established including provincial and local government, Eskom and other key stakeholders. The Forum will discuss a range of issues including planning, communication and to develop a systematic approach to load-shedding agreed to by municipalities. This will aim to minimize the negative impact of electricity outages on the Gauteng economy and look at a pro-poor approach in the electricity supply.
Key aspects of the campaign will include the following:
Further the meeting agreed that government, working with ESKOM and the private sector should:
On Elections
The PEC noted that 2008 is the last year before the next general elections. During the course of this year, we will establish an election machinery to prepare for the 2009 elections. Immediately after the National Elections Strategy workshop we will hold our own provincial strategy workshop to develop our provincial election strategy.
On Unity
The PEC noted challenges that have arisen as a result of the leadership challenges which faced us as we were preparing for the 52nd National Conference. We therefore agreed that we must restore the democratic values of the movement and ensure normalisation of the ANC.
It was agreed that the unity of our movement remains paramount if we are to achieve our vision of fundamental social transformation.
We agreed that divisions and negative public perceptions arising from the leadership contestation period will have to be addressed on an ongoing basis, to build unity and cohesion and the public standing of our movement.
In the coming months, we will develop a comprehensive contribution on the review of the document, "Through the Eye of the Needle", as agreed at the national conference.
The PEC reiterated that the ANC belongs to all its members, as indicated in the January 8th NEC Statement, which said that, "The ANC belongs to its members equally. Membership or leadership of the ANC must never be used to marginalised or exclude others. The ANC has found ways, even in the face of the most daunting circumstances, to embrace diversity and manage differences. We acknowledge that the past few months and years have placed the unity of the ANC under great strain. We concede that the contestation of leadership positions, an important and necessary part of our democratic processes, served at times to fuel a perception of discord within our ranks".
The PEC further dispelled any notions of purges or marginalization following the National Conference. This was stated by the ANC President, Comrade Jacob Zuma, who said that no one will be marginalized or purged within the African National Congress, irrespective of their views or their leadership preferences prior to the national leadership elections. Similarly, no one should be excluded from the work of the ANC and no one should work to exclude others.
On Building Organisation
The PEC agreed that we must ensure that Branches continue to play a vanguard role in leading society and that they must be at the centre of community development. Particular attention will be paid to recruitment to ensure that by 2012 we will ensure that our membership is 1% of the Gauteng electorate.
Cadreship Development
The PEC agreed that we will embark on an intensive programme to produce a well rounded cadres. This year we will launch the Walter Sisulu School of Cadre Development, which has a responsibility to train our cadres in the values, history, and policies of the ANC. Members of the ANC will be expected to participate in the programme of the school.
As we embark on the programme of Branch Annual General Meetings (AGM's) and Regional Conferences, we will ensure that these meetings discuss theoretical issues and not focus only on the election of leadership. After every AGM we will embark on an intensive induction of the newly elected executive members.
Building the capacity of the state
The PEC agreed that we must continue to work towards building a democratic developmental state in Gauteng, which will prioritise shared economic growth and job creation and the building of Gauteng as a globally competitive city region. During the course of this year we must undertake a detailed five-year review of the performance of government since 2004. In realising our vision of building Gauteng as Globally Competitive City Region, the PEC will develop a concept document on the metro system of government.
Conclusion
We will also strengthen the ANC's capacity to monitor and evaluate the performance of government and its public representatives.
The PEC emerged from the Lekgotla as a united leadership collective with a common agenda to build the ANC and lead the movement in unity in action. The PEC will carry its deliberations forward to regions and branches, starting with the Assembly of Cadres on 3rd February 2008.
Based on this leadership and the successful deliberations of the Lekgotla, the PEC expressed confidence that Gauteng would emerge more united and stronger than ever before. The PEC will stand together as we rally all ANC and Alliance activists and members behind a programme to build the ANC as the unequivocal leader and the engine of the movement for fundamental democratic change.
The PEC also mourned the passing on of Comrade Marcus Nchodo, who was buried on Saturday the 26th of January 2008 after a short illness. He was a committed and selfless leader of our movement, a member of COSAS, the ANCYL and Umkhonto we Sizwe. May his soul rest in peace.
ENDS
Issued by the ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee
For more information contact Nkenke Kekana (ANC Gauteng PEC Head of Communications) on 082 900-0096