The ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) needs to act swiftly to address the challenges that ‘threaten to undermine and erode the democratic gains’, said Secretary General Fikile Mbalula when delivering the party’s National Conference Declaration this morning.

The biggest obstacles include poor economic performance and the high rates of unemployment, poverty and inequality, he said.

He said the party’s strategic objectives include eradicating racial oppression, women’s oppression and class super-exploitation.

“We seek to achieve this through the fundamental socioeconomic transformation of South Africa into a non-racial, non-sexist, united, democratic and prosperous society based on the vision, values and principals of the Freedom Charter and the Constitution of our country,” Mbalula said.

With South Africa marking its 30^th year as a democracy in 2024, Mbalula said that the democratic gains made over the first three decades of freedom should be highlighted, consolidated and defended.

“The narrative by the conservative and neo-liberal forces in our country that suggests that life was better under apartheid and colonialism must be rejected.”

He stated that the party should publicise its achievements and gains, including a transformative constitution, progress in the expansion of basic services and infrastructure and the establishment of a credible democratic political system.

Power and jobs

“The ANC-led government must move decisively to implement conference resolutions to end load-shedding and stabilise the electricity supply,” he said.

Efforts to transform and grow the economy to create jobs and empower Africans must include new measures to cut red tape and ensure small enterprises, co-operatives and informal businesses, particularly those owned by women and young people, have effective means of raising finances and accessing markets.

Mbalula said the party believes the recently signed African Continental Free Trade Area presents an opportunity to improve trade on the continent and promote investment in critical sectors.

Other resolutions

• Underutilised land must be brought into production to advance employment, rural development and food security.
• The social relief of distress grant must be continued.
• Security agencies must be more effective in tackling crime and corruption.
• Better instruments to combat racism must be introduced.
• There must be a recommitment to a people-orientated participatory democracy.
• Professionalising the public service to ensure capacity and stability in the state must be prioritised.
• ANC branches must better engage with communities, become active in ward committees, join community policing forms and work with local law enforcement.

“The ANC will only succeed in realising its strategic objective of transforming South Africa when it has successfully transformed itself into a renewed, responsive, modernised, well-governed, well-resourced, caring and effective political formation,” Mbalula said.

What now?

Party president Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the ANC’s 111^th Anniversary NEC statement in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Thereafter, said Mbalula, the party will prepare for Cabinet and ANC lekgotlas, which will deal with a Cabinet reshuffle.