KZN ANC STATEMENT ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE PROVINCIAL LEKGOTLA

8 September 2015

The ANC KZN held its PEC Lekgotla to evaluate the progress achieved in the implementation of the programme of action adopted by our movement at the beginning of 2015. The Lekgotla was also charged with the responsibility of consolidating the ANC’s programme for next year.

On Moral Regeneration

As part of instilling morality and social values in our young people, the PEC Lekgotla was pleased about the success of Umkhosi Womhlanga which was held on Saturday and Sunday. The ANC has congratulated His Majesty the King and the Provincial Government on such a comprehensive programme and further called on the society to continue imparting morality on the youth at all times.

On the Balance of Forces

The PEC took note of the political landscape currently characterising the province and the country as a whole. The PEC observed that this landscape is largely dominated by the politics of competition which sees opposition parties colluding against the ANC. Such collusion is informed by nothing else but political opportunism and populism.

As we engage on subject of the current political landscape, we need to ensure that we work with an objective analysis thereof which provides concrete and factual realities which are nowadays pushed aside only to find reasons to delegitimise the liberation movement among the people. These attacks contribute no fresh and meaningful thought on our nation's outlook, save to say they prove that all our ideological opponents are at a cul-de-sac in terms of feeling the pulse of the nation.

At no time in recent history did our country need, more urgently than now, maximum cooperation of all sectors to deal with the imperative challenges that we face. These challenges include fighting poverty, unemployment, crime and social ills. Only serious commitment and joint campaigns by all sectors will see South Africa defeating these challenges. The cooperation between government, labour, political parties, the civic society, the religious sector and the academia is required more than ever to take South Africa forward.

The continuing tendency of working in an antagonistic manner between the public and the economic sectors is one of the things that derail economic growth.

Governance and Service Delivery

The PEC Lekgotla received and engaged on the political overview presented by the Provincial Chairperson Cde Senzo Mchunu. The PEC further received presentations on the state of governance and progress on service delivery, the state of finances in the province and a presentation on basic services, in particular water and electricity.

Having been informed by the above and after thorough engagements during commissions, the PEC Lekgotla has resolved on the following:

The ANC remains committed to providing basic services to all the people of the province and will continue working hard to ensure that the people’s lives are transformed.

Having been apprised of the fiscal challenges facing the country and their impact on the province, the PEC Lekgotla has agreed to cautiously apply progressive cost-cutting measures which will be applied in a manner that does not compromise the delivery of services to our people. These cost-cutting measures will focus on reducing government expenditure on non-essential items. This should start by doing away with VIP services, such as catering and holding rooms during government’s public events. 

The Government should consider reducing its spending at management level and invest more in lower levels which are at the coalface of service delivery where people interact directly with government on a daily basis.

The PEC Lekgotla has welcomed and accepted the approach of the Departments of Economic Development and Tourism, and Agriculture and Environmental Affairs targeting the previously economic marginalised sections of our society. This needs to extend to deliberate efforts to create new African industrialists in the province.

The PEC Lekgotla has urged that government should establish an economy policy review panel which will investigate and establish how beneficiation patterns are distributed in the province since we have took the province in 2004.

On economic development, the PEC Lekgotla has once again reaffirmed that our country is a developmental state which should ensure that there is efficiency at all times. The PEC reaffirmed that government must continue to build the capacity of the state to directly deliver rather than outsource services. This means that the government through the Department of Public Works should stop renting offices and start building government precincts which will house departments in our regions and further accommodate even local government. It should establish a construction institution to focus on construction work rather than always outsource these services to service providers. All departments and municipalities should stop outsourcing services the government can provide on its own and build technical capacity to deliver instead.

As part of reversing the legacy of apartheid and the colonial system which still persistently affects the country and finds expression through poverty, unemployment and inequality, the ANC government needs to engage seriously on how to alter property relations in the country. Without negating the principle of a mixed economy, the ANC should ensure that any company that trades through minerals and any raw materials in South Africa should build its plants in the country and no raw materials should leave the country without being processed into final products. The ANC will ensure that it remains with the people, deals and resolves their problems, such as mobilising and leading programmes against social ills and other crimes.

 The PEC has resolved that KZN local councils should move from the Executive Committee system to the Mayoral Committee system which will enhance the speedy coordination of services to the people. Not a single municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has the Mayoral system at the moment.

After the PEC Lekgotla, the PEC met and finalised organisational matters that are facing the organisation in the current period.

On Local Government

On Local Government Elections, the PEC is pleased with the progress that is taking place on preparations for the elections campaign. Our elections structures are now in place and functioning and we are ready for intensive campaigning. The PEC appreciates that the NEC has resolved, among others, on 60% retention of councilors which will help to ensure continuity. The list process will start at the end of October and last until the end of November 2015.

Ethekwini Regional Conference

On eThekwini Regional Conference, preparations for the conference have resumed and these include reconvening BGMs and the political education process. The Conference will be held in October 2015 as per the instruction of the national leadership. As part of dealing with ill-discipline, the PEC has adopted the rules which contain issues that will lead to summarily suspending offenders whenever necessary. The offences in this regard include disruption of BGMs, carrying weapons in the meetings, insults in meetings, or singing songs that are derogatory. Given the work done by both the PEC and NEC, the PEC is confident that the conference will proceed as planned.

On the Provincial Conference, the Conference is supposed to be held in May 2016 and this period will coincide with the Local Government Elections. The PEC has resolved to convene the Provincial Conference before the end of November 2015.

Conclusion

The PEC Lekgotla also sent its condolences to the family of Judge Skweyiya and to the family of Mr Roland Mqwebu who were buried last Saturday.

Thank you.

Statement issued by the ANC Provincial Secretary, Sihle Zikalala, September 8 2015