30 March 2009
ANC President Jacob Zuma has warned that the ANC would not tolerate public servants who are lazy and incapable of executing their duty as it hampers service delivery.
Zuma was addressing around 55,000 supporters during the ANC mass mobilisation rally held at the Olympia Stadium in Rustenburg, North West yesterday (29 March 2009).
Zuma said the ANC would institute a monitoring department based in the Presidency to ensure that performance is assessed from the President to the municipal councillor. This will ensure that there is accountability from everyone entrusted with public funds.
"We will make sure that anyone who does not perform exits the public service," Zuma said. He said politicians who do not perform would be affected by this principle. "They will be asked to resign before their term of office ends in five years," Zuma said.
Zuma said fighting crime and fighting the causes of crime was a priority of the ANC government in the next five years, and there was a need to overhaul the criminal justice system to ensure that the levels of crime are drastically reduced. Leaders found to be involved in corruption, nepotism, and inability to spend their budgets will also be asked to leave. "Why should they stay?" Zuma asked.
The ANC will actively combat serious and violent crime by being tougher on criminals and organised syndicates. In this respect the ANC will increase the capacity of the South African Police Service (SAPS) through recruitment, rigorous training, better remuneration, equipping and increasing the capacity of especially the detective services, forensics, prosecutions, judicial services and crime intelligence.
Zuma said the ANC would step up measures in the fight against corruption within society, the state and private sector, including measures to ensure politicians do not tamper with the adjudication of tenders. "Measures will also be taken to ensure transparent process of the tendering system as well as ensuring much stronger accountability of the public servants involved in tendering process," he said.
Zuma said no learner would be allowed to loiter on streets during school hours. He said education was one of the main priorities in the ANC manifesto. The ANC is working towards free and compulsory education for all children. As an immediate step, the ANC will ensure that at least 60% of schools are no-fee schools. "The ANC will ensure that South Africa is completely liberated from illiteracy by 2014 through our mass literacy campaign," he said.
Zuma said the ANC was fully behind the judiciary and respected its independence. This had been illustrated by the manner that the case against him had been handled, within the confines of the law and its institutions.
Issued by:
African National Congress
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Ishmael Mnisi 082 333 5550