ANC Limpopo council consolidates proposals

The strengthening of the African National Congress (ANC), re-aligning and streamlining of structures from top to bottom, the introduction of a system to monitor and evaluate its deployees to government, the acceleration of land restitution, measures for alleviation of poverty and addressing unemployment count among the proposals to be taken to the ruling party’s national policy conference by its Limpopo delegation after a special Provincial General Council (PGC) in Polokwane on Sunday.
Following the weekend programme, ANC Provincial Secretary Nocks Seabi informed Polokwane Observer that the 280 Limpopo delegates to the policy conference constituted the entire Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), the top five of regional executive structures and delegates from a total of 233 selected branches across the province.
The fifth national policy conference that is expected to start tomorrow (Friday) is to review ANC policy and make recommendations on amendments or new policies to the national conference scheduled for December. It will conclude next Wednesday.
Delegates to Sunday’s PGC deliberated on discussion documents on strategy and tactics, organisational renewal, communications, economic transformation, legislature and governance, social transformation, peace and stability, international relations as well as education, health, science and technology during sessions of the respective commissions.
Seabi said they would want to see the strengthening of the organisation, especially at the head office through a proposal for a number of full-time officials who should include a second Deputy President and an extra Deputy Secretary General as well as at provincial and regional offices. Also reducing the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 86 to 66, to include officials, would be a proposal from the Limpopo component for a massive cut of about 20 people, Seabi indicated. Looking at the structures they would further suggest doing away with sub-regions within the organisational context.
He mentioned that the introduction of a system of monitoring and evaluation of ANC deployees to government to deliver on the mandate and services to people was another point to be put forward at the policy conference.
When considering radical economic transformation the PGC looked at accelerating land restitution, he said.
In this regard the council reached a resolution that land restitution had to be fast-tracked and if it required an amendment of the Constitution the ANC had to take that route, it was learnt.
On the education front the PGC proposed re-looking at the school curriculum as well as higher education to be made accessible to disadvantaged matriculants.
According to Seabi no leadership preferences were discussed on Sunday. He added that they would start addressing it upon their return from the policy conference.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com