Speeches

Officials of the African National Congress,
President Thabo Mbeki,
Members of the NEC,

Stalwarts and Veterans of our movement,

Leadership of the Leagues and Alliance partners,

Representatives of mass democratic formations,

Deployed comrades,

Comrades,

We have come to the conclusion of the first NEC Lekgotla after the National and Provincial
Elections held in May this year.

Through the deliberations held over the last three days, the cadres of our movement
gathered here have fully understood and responded pragmatically to the momentous tasks
that lie ahead.

Having dedicated much time to analysing the effects and implications of the outcomes of the
2024 elections, this Lekgotla has in more ways than one provided critical direction to our
movement, to our government and to our country.

In line with a longstanding tradition of our movement, we have not shied away from
confronting difficult questions and uncomfortable truths, from admitting mistakes and
acknowledging our weaknesses.

At the same time, we have not allowed the strategic setback we have suffered in these
elections to break our spirit and wear us down. Even in the most trying moments in the complex history of our struggle and country, the

ANC has always taken decisions in the best interests of the people of South Africa. We have
not succumbed to cynicism and despair. We have recognised the strengths of our movement, the enduring faith of the South African

people in the vision of a free, democratic, united and equal society, and the enormous

potential in our country to provide meaningful livelihoods and opportunities for all.

We have reaffirmed our determination to achieve a National Democratic Society. This is a

vision from which we will not retreat.

We have agreed that the challenging conditions in which we must now prosecute the

National Democratic Revolution demand greater focus, discipline, application and focused

execution of our decisions.2

These new conditions require that we be innovative and agile in dealing with the pressing

problems of the people in every locality across the length and breadth of our country.

They also require that we be firm and unwavering in our strategic intent and foresight, while

remaining flexible in our tactics.

The Lekgotla has outlined the actions we need to take in government, in our movement, in

communities and in other areas of society to advance fundamental social and economic

transformation.

This Lekgotla has underscored the centrality of the ANC structures, especially in

communities, and the quality of ANC members who must undertake work in every

community and sector of society. We have said that we cannot undertake the tasks required

of us if we do not unite, strengthen and renew the ANC.

As the 2024 elections have reminded us – and as we know from our history – there is no

way that we can advance the NDR without effective and active structures of the Alliance and

the broad democratic movement.

By the same measure, we need ANC members, volunteers, cadres and leaders that are

committed, selfless and capable. They should be people who have integrity and that display

advanced levels of political consciousness.

Through organisational renewal, we need to promote principled, transformative and

emancipatory activism and politics.

This Lekgotla has confirmed that the ANC must proceed without delay and with greater

energy with the renewal of our movement.

Cde Blade Nzimande reminded us that we cannot renew the ANC without renewing the

Alliance. We agree. We must now make it a priority to build the Alliance as a cohesive and

effective agent of change within a common programme of action.

We will continue to engage with our Alliance partners on the Government of National Unity.

Having taken the view that the GNU is the best tactical option, the ANC is fully aware about

the risks and potential threats of this moment.

We have noted the statement of the South African Communist Party on the occasion of its

103rd anniversary that the Party “takes a critical but non-oppositionist stance” towards the

GNU. We welcome this.

We agree with the statement by the SACP that: “We must ensure that our participation [in

the GNU] does not undermine our core principles and goals but serves as a platform to

defend and advance working-class interests.”

It is necessary that the entire Alliance must discuss how to handle all the pressing political,

strategic, tactical and organisational questions. We will emerge stronger from the current

strategic setback if we are united and work together as comrades and not personalise

political issues.

We are inspired by the words of President OR Tambo at the 48th National Conference in

1991, when he said:

“We did not tear ourselves apart because of lack of progress at times. We were always

ready to accept our mistakes and to correct them. Above all, we succeeded to foster3

and defend the unity of the ANC and the unity of our people in general. Even in bleak

moments, we were never in doubt regarding the winning of freedom. We have never

been in doubt that the people’s cause shall triumph.

The ANC-led Alliance can handle all the challenges of this moment and turn the setback into

a strategic advantage to propel the transformation agenda forward. When we are united, we

can never be defeated.

The Lekgotla has paid particular attention to the task of communications and the need to

engage more vigorously in the battle of ideas. We are reminded that communications is an

essential political task that must be integral to all our work, whether in the movement, in

communities or in government.

We know that actions speak louder than words. We communicate through our conduct, our

actions and the difference we make in people’s lives.

If we are divided, if we tolerate acts of corruption and patronage, if we live lavish lifestyles

through which we show ourselves to be better than our people and appear to only look after

our own, then not even the best communications strategy will be able to improve our

standing among the people.

The renewal of the ANC must be reflected in our every day behaviour, on how we conduct

ourselves in public platforms and what we post on social media. Let us not occupy headlines

for the wrong reasons. Let us be known for excellence and competence.

Every NEC member, every public representative, every deployee and every cadre must

consider themselves as communicators. They need to be suitably skilled and capacitated,

need to understand the positions and messages of the ANC, and need to exercise discipline

and responsibility.

This Lekgotla has confirmed that among the many actions that we must now take, our apex

priority at this time is inclusive economic growth.

We understand inclusive growth to be a process that creates employment for the millions of

South Africans who are today without jobs. It must be growth that prioritises the interests of

the poor and working class.

We understand inclusive growth to be transformative.

It must contribute to fundamental changes in the economy’s structure, systems and

institutions to benefit all South Africans, focusing on blacks in general and Africans in

particular. The economic growth we must pursue must benefit women, young people and

vulnerable groups.

The Lekgotla has agreed that we should finalise an overarching economic policy integrating

transport, energy, logistics, mineral beneficiation and industrialisation.

As we undertake this task, we must, as a matter of urgency, intensify the work to drive

investment in infrastructure and productive economic activity.

We must complete the reforms that are currently underway to improve the efficiency and

capacity of our network industries, especially electricity, transport and logistics, water and

telecommunications.4

We have said that we will continue to use public procurement to support SMMEs and

increase financial and non-financial support for SMMEs. We need in particular to support

women- and youth-owned businesses and emerging industrialists.

We recognise that participation in economic activity is the most effective way to lift people

out of poverty and improve their lives on a sustainable basis.

We also recognise that we must use the substantial capabilities of the state to far greater

effect to reduce poverty and shield people from the high cost of living.

This requires us to strengthen social protection measures, such as grants and the provision

of subsidised services, while providing people with pathways into economic activity and skills

development.

We have said that among the steps we must take to address the rising cost of living, we

must conduct a study and review the mechanisms for determining various administered

prices, such as fuel and electricity, and look to expand the list of basic goods that are VAT-

exempt.

With so many people living far from economic opportunities and services, transport costs

take up a large part of people’s income and drive up the cost of living.

We therefore need to invest in public transport, restoring and expanding the operational

capabilities of the commuter rail system and implementing an integrated public transport

system that is safe and affordable.

We have highlighted the social and economic value of affordable, accessible, quality health

care that is available equally to all South Africans.

We will therefore proceed with the implementation of the National Health Insurance. We will

invest in our health infrastructure and the training of health personnel and improve the

quality of care in both the public and private health sectors.

It is essential that we undertake this work so that South Africans can live longer and

healthier lives. This will enable our people to be more productive so that they can be lifted

out of poverty.

We have emphasised that our education system, from early childhood education through to

post-school education and training, must prepare young people for the changing world of

work.

The Lekgotla has identified practical actions that we must take to strengthen vital areas in

our education and skills development system, which we need to implement conscientiously

and fully.

We have recognised that building a capable developmental state must begin with the ANC

and the Alliance. We need to build the capacity of the ANC to provide leadership to the state

and to ensure that the state faithfully and fully implements the electoral mandate.

The Lekgotla has reaffirmed the developmental importance of a professionalised public

service, with robust mechanisms for capacity-building, which will involve regular training for

our public servants. We have agreed that performance management and the exercise of

accountability must be enforced.5

We should not limit our understanding of a capable state to the Executive. Parliament and

the legislatures are vital to ensuring that the state is both efficient and accountable.

As the movement, we need to give equal attention to the work of Parliament and the

legislatures, ensure that we deploy capable and committed people to these institutions, and

that they have the resources and capabilities to advance our movement’s electoral mandate.

We must focus at this time on building capable and developmental local government. It is at

this sphere of government where the state can have the greatest effect and where there is

now the greatest need.

The Lekgotla has identified the value of the District Development Model in aligning the work

of all spheres of government more effectively in strengthening the provision of local

infrastructure and services.

We have agreed that local government must be placed more firmly on the national agenda,

because the performance of local government is vital to the success of our efforts to achieve

inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty.

The Lekgotla has called on government to focus on the prevention of crime and to address

the social and economic conditions that fuel crime and violence.

As the ANC and Alliance, we need to take a far more assertive role in mobilising

communities and all social formations in a country-wide effort to tackle crime, gangsterism

and violence.

An integral part of that work must be the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.

As we strengthen the response of the criminal justice system and improve the support

provided to survivors of these crimes, our priority must be prevention.

We must ensure that the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is

constituted without delay, and it must be capacitated so that it can coordinate and drive a

response that is multi-dimensional and involves all stakeholders.

As the ANC, we have a clear mandate from the electorate. Wherever we are deployed, we

have a responsibility to implement the commitments contained in our Manifesto. This

Lekgotla has provided us with further direction.

We have recognised that we need to undertake this work within a Government of National

Unity comprised of parties, some of which we have sharp political and ideological

differences with.

We need to provide leadership to the work of the GNU not through the imposition of our will,

but through the strength of our positions and the clarity of our purpose.

We need to make use of the fact that the principles and minimum programme contained in

the Statement of Intent that the 10 parties of the GNU committed themselves to provides a

basis for far-reaching social and economic transformation.

Drawing on the deliberations of this Lekgotla, we will translate the minimum programme into

the 7th administration’s Medium Term Development Plan that will enable the implementation

of our electoral mandate.6

The Lekgotla supported the calling of the National Dialogue that will develop a

comprehensive social compact. We agreed that the National Dialogue should be as inclusive

as possible.

Many countries are increasingly recognising the important and constructive role that South

Africa has played and needs to play in continental and international matters.

As the ANC and the Alliance – and as a country – we need to better understand and

appreciate our international responsibilities. We need to give greater strategic attention to

our international work and ensure that it is better capacitated.

The Lekgotla has recognised the significance of our Presidency of the G20, and the

opportunities that it provides to advance the needs and interests of the African continent and

the Global South.

We need to make our G20 Presidency an important pillar of our efforts to advance

sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, justice, peace and stability across the

globe.

The positions of the ANC on solidarity with the struggles of the peoples of Palestine,

Western Sahara, Cuba and elsewhere must continue to find expression in the programmes

of our government.

As we have done in the past, the Secretary General’s Office will publicly communicate the

more detailed outcomes of the Lekgotla as canvassed in the commissions and as adopted in

the next few days.

We leave this Lekgotla encouraged and inspired. We have identified the tasks that our

movement needs to undertake in the weeks and months ahead to meet the expectations of

the people of South Africa.

We have a firm sense of what we must do to rebuild the ANC and the Alliance and to begin

to restore people’s trust in the movement.

The NEC will be holding another meeting in a few weeks to undertake a thorough review of

our organisation on a branch by branch basis with a view to strengthening and renewing our

movement.

We are committed to a robust outcomes, monitoring and accountability framework.

Every leader, cadre, public representative and deployee must accept the tasks they have

been given and take personal responsibility for the manner in which they perform these

tasks.

This Lekgotla has provided the guidance we need.

Let us now go out and do the work.

We call on all South Africans to support the Government of National Unity and wish it well in

the work it must do.

I thank you.