ANC is not for sale says Mabuyakhulu

The MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in KZN, Michael Mabuyakhulu, opened the iNkosi Bhambatha ANC Regional Lekgotla conference on a high note. The two-day conference held at Amabutho Lodge in Dundee on March 14 and 15, gave the ANC members and leaders serious political education and direction. This meeting was chaired by the Secretary of this region, Bheki Lembede.
It was the first time the Bhambatha Region conducted such a progressive and well organised meeting. Mabuyakhulu reminded delegates that they should now stick to the old tradition of the ANC – that of loving people, not self empowerment.
When educating the new ANC Regional Executive, Council said there must be no winners and losers. Elected members must work to better the lives of the people and to unite the ANC. Mabuyakhulu said ‘ANC is not for sale’. He said this was his own point of view.
“I am against tender entrepreneurs. Comrades, this system must be reviewed because other people turn to benefit 0% through corrupt means”.
He warned Regional Leadership that they must find ways to respond to the media. He warned leaders not to use the wisdom of the heart, but to use the wisdom of the head when doing things.  He called municipalities to encourage vendors to apply for business permits including foreign nationals who do not have legal documents.
Mabuyakhulu was also told about foreign business people who are getting huge discounts from certain wholesalers so that they cut their prices down to beat local competitors. “Illegal national foreigners must not be granted trading licence,” MEC Mabuyakhulu added. The National Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, in his short speech said the budget was too tough because the intention was to clean bad rooms. Speaking to the Courier on behalf of the New ANC Regional Executive of Bhambatha Region, Endumeni Mayor Thulani Mahaye, who is also a spokesperson for the region said, the conference took resolutions on various categories.
The ANC will ensure that council resolutions are implemented accordingly. Grant expenditure within Municipalities must be monitored. Programmes with the demarcation board within the region should be monitored and ensured that ANC Sub Regions get the information and participate when it affects boundaries.
Gender parity in the senior management positions and deployment as Councillors should be adhered to.
All municipalities must ensure that MPAC members have the capacity to play an effective oversight role.
The issue of the service delivery protest in Sithembile in Glencoe was discussed, as well as the issue of national foreigners’ attacks, racism in schools, racism by farmers against workers, farm dwellers, HIV and AIDS as well as child and women abuse including (ukuthwalwa kwezintombi) and education and health.
The ANC resolved to embark on massive campaigns against these issues. It was resolved to revive the ploughing programme that was once rolled out by the district to assist subsistence fields for food guarantee.
The Regional Executive Council must identify municipalities that need to apply for full time councillors to strengthen the political role in the municipalities. All municipalities must make sure that youth units are established in all municipalities. It was resolved that the District Mayor of Umzinyathi, Reverend James Mthethwa, must be deployed fully at Msinga to guarantee service delivery.
It was also resolved that the participation of Amakhosi to council meetings be extended to portfolio committees. The ANC also said that they understand the seriousness of the drought in the region.
The ANC said they are calling upon all relevant departments and role players in the water sector to engage with the District Municipality to address this challenge.
The Mayor said that they conducted this conference in the spirit of the Freedom Charter and Unity in Action to advance economic freedom.