South African’s National Liberation Movement

Media Statement

Closing Remarks by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to the National Executive Committee

National Chairperson, Cde Gwede Mantashe
Deputy President Paul Mashatile and other officials of the African National Congress NEC Members,

Comrades,

We have reached the conclusion of an important and constructive meeting of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress.

This meeting focused on issues of renewal of the ANC and how we should promote integrity and ethical conduct in the ranks of the ANC.

The NEC adopted a comprehensive programme of renewal and rebuilding of our organisation that will be rolled out over the next eighteen months.

At the centre of renewal is the return our organisation to its historical mission of service to the people and our collective quest to build a better life for all South Africans.

The NEC therefore resolved that we will focus our branches, our public representatives and our leadership at local, regional, provincial and national level on the immediate tasks of the National Democratic Revolution as set out in our manifesto.

Accordingly we must continue the transformation of our country, to create work and opportunity, to end poverty and hunger, and to ensure that all South Africans, men, women and children, are able to live in peace and safety.

During these five years, working with you, we are therefore implementing a jobs plan to put more South Africans to work. We are building our industries, developing our infrastructure and investing in an inclusive economy. We are taking a number of steps to tackle the high cost of living, investing in our people and improving the provision of affordable water and electricity.

We are working to defend democracy and advance the freedom we fought for, and continue to build a better Africa and a better world.

The NEC’s deliberations on rebuilding our organisation culminated in a practical roadmap to rebuild the organisation from the ground up so that we have branches with active members and quality of cadreship to advance the tasks of our revolution.

We have always said the strength of the African National Congress lies in its footprint in every ward throughout the length and breadth of our country: in urban areas, in peri-urban areas, towns, villages and rural areas.

This is borne out by the fact that despite our electoral setback in 2024, the ANC still commands an outright majority in over 14 000 of the 23 000 voting districts in our country.

We decided that our renewal programme focus on rebuilding branches to become vibrant and activist branches, with clear programmes of action that address the tasks of the National Democratic Revolution.

In doing this we are guided by the words of Amilcar Cabral, who famously asserted in 1965 that we must:

“Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children…” He said this in his well known treatise: ’Tell no lies, Claim no easy victories’.

Accordingly, the NEC resolved that our programme to build ANC branches must ground them in the everyday struggles of ordinary South Africans to overcome poverty and inequality and create inclusive local economic development and jobs in communities.

The ANC and Youth League branches must support young people to identify opportunities for further study, internships and work opportunities offered by government and the private sector.

ANC branches must work actively to support the provision of affordable services and payment for use of water and electricity. They should promote ongoing maintenance and protection of local public infrastructure.

The NEC in its work with branches will ensure they work with local government and civil society to promote clean and green communities with food gardens and parks for children to play in. Our branches must promote healthy lifestyles and community cohesion through getting members of our communities to participate in sports, arts and culture so we can combat gangsterism, drug and alcohol addiction.

ANC branches must work with School Governing Bodies to ensure that quality learning and teaching takes place in schools. Our branches must mobilise parents to ensure children are in school on time and do their homework.

ANC Branches must work with community health workers and other social practitioners to identify vulnerable families and elderly individuals who need support and assistance from public health services.

There are ongoing mobile outreach programmes by Home Affairs, Sassa and the Department of Employment and Labour that are aimed at making services accessible to communities. The NEC agreed that it must be one of the tasks of an ANC Branch to mobilise community members to take advantage of all these opportunities that are offered.

The NEC resolved that in order to build public participation, encourage accountability and advance democracy we will ensure that our elected public representatives, namely councillors, MPs and MPLs, focus on engaging members of the community more closely and regularly.

These public representatives will be required to hold regular public meetings to address matters of local concern, available government services and explain policy matters under consideration in government.

The NEC emphasised that crime, gangsterism and gender-based violence and femicide remain priority issues for communities. ANC branches have an important role to play in supporting Community Policing Forums and community safety initiatives to deal with violence and criminality.

The NEC decided that as we approach the 16 Days of Activism, ANC and Women’s League branches must use this focus on gender-based violence and femicide to ensure victims have access to services and are supported in court proceedings. We must also take forward initiatives that conscientise men and boys against toxic masculinity and the use of violence to solve problems.

The NEC is determined to build branches that are political, not transactional or captured for individual career advancement or sectional interests. The NEC’s Diagnostic Report shows that a number of ANC branches have been repurposed for individual and sectional interests that neglect the fundamental tasks of the National Democratic Revolution.

These branches quite often have no life, no standing and no programme in their communities. The NEC reaffirmed that this is not how the ANC constitution defines the role and function of an ANC branch.

The Diagnostic Report deplored the practice of bulk-buying of membership to establish branches to nominate delegates and elect leadership at conferences or to elect ward candidates. Accordingly, the NEC welcomed enhanced features of the membership management system which will mitigate these practices.

The NEC emphasised that to achieve effective branches, renewal must also focus on individual ANC leaders and members. This includes raising the intellectual capacity and enhancing the moral and ethical orientation of leaders and members. It is in this context that we will tomorrow launch the ANC Foundation Course. The course will be compulsory for every ANC member, public representative and leader, starting with members of the NEC.

The NEC agreed that the living embodiment of a renewed ANC will be members and leaders who show exemplary conduct in society through their service to the people of our country, through hard work in carrying out their duties, whether in government, the community or the organisation, and who will continuosly uphold the core values and principles of the ANC.

In the face of rising populism and other negative tendencies, the NEC agreed that ANC structures will mobilise all South Africans in a campaign to combat the demons of racism, tribalism, sexism, ethnic chauvinism, homophobia and related intolerances in our country and organisation.

The NEC resolved that the third element of renewal is about instilling integrity, ethics and organisational discipline.

The Integrity Commission is the custodian of the values and ethics of the ANC. It must therefore ensure that ANC members and leaders uphold the values and ethics of the organisation at all times in their political, public and personal lives.

The Commission deals with ethical and political complaints against members and serves as an advisory body to the NEC on matters affecting the public image and reputation of the ANC.

This special NEC considered the important work of the Integrity Commission and adopted amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Integrity Commission and the Step Aside Guidelines. This will provide greater clarity and focus to the work of the Integrity Commission.

The NEC considered all reports of the Integrity Commission for the period 2019 to 2024. The NEC noted that several reports have been implemented, whilst others have been overtaken by events.

The NEC directed the Secretary General to process those recommendations that were accepted by the NEC and to provide a report to the Integrity Commission on these matters.

The NEC reaffirmed its previous decision that all members who did not present themselves to the Integrity Commission in relation to matters affecting them in the final report of the Zondo Commission must be referred to the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).

The NEC directed the Secretary General to expedite the appointment of a panel to deal with appeals or reviews of the findings and/or recommendations of the Integrity Commission, before the NEC takes a final decision.

The NEC agreed to develop a ‘Guiding Perspective on Leadership Succession’ informed by our document “Through the Eye of a Needle”.

The NEC considered this to be of utmost importance in the context of our adopted roadmap to renew the organisation. Any leadership contest or lobbying at this point in time is what the NEC regards as a distraction from the key tasks of the National Democratic Revolution.

There will a time for disciplined discussion and engagement on leadership succession. Now is not that time. Our next National Conference is only 2027 and we are only in 2024. Right now, the ANC must focus on rebuilding organisation and preparing for the local government elections in 2026.

We are all deeply concerned by recent reports of mass killings in communities and deaths of several groups of children after consuming certain foodstuffs.

We welcome the speedy action by the South African Police Service in identifying and arresting some of the alleged perpetrators of mass shootings. We look forward to further arrests and the successful prosecution of those who have committed these heinous crimes.

We also welcome the joint actions of several departments under the leadership of the Minister of Health in investigating the cause of the hospitalisation and tragic deaths of children due to suspected contaminated food.

We particularly commend the recent arrests in this regard and look forward to shortly receiving the full report on the outcome of the work that is being done and the recommendations in avoiding future incidents.

The NEC calls on government to move swiftly to adopt regulations for the legal operation of spaza shops, where a number of children would have bought some of these foodstuffs.

We welcome the appointment of the Electoral Panel to explore options of how to further strengthen our electoral system. The ANC will make its submission to the panel and share it with our members and the public.

The meetings of this NEC continue to be a great platform for deep and meaningful discussions that are conducted in a comradely manner. NEC members are taking their work and responsibilities very seriously.

It is for me a joy to be in meetings of the NEC. I commend you all for participating in the way you do, under the capable leadership of the National Chairperson.

I thank you.