AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING STATEMENT

3 March 2015

The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal held its ordinary monthly Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) fromSaturday to Saturday at the Pinetown Civic Centre. The comradely discussions focused mainly on how our movement plans to continue using the prescripts of the Freedom Charter to accelerate service delivery in all parts of the province and how to strengthen our glorious movement as we approach the crucial local government elections.

ON SONA AND SOPA

The PEC conducted a thorough assessment of the State of the Nation Address delivered by the President Comrade Jacob Zuma two weeks ago and the provincial State of the Province Address delivered by our Chairperson and Premier Comrade Senzo Mchunu last week and it was unanimously agreed that both SONA and SOPA gave clear direction on resolving challenges facing our country.

The meeting commended the Premier for accounting for all the promises and commitments he made when he announced the government's first 100 days projects as all the promises made were honoured. This includes the slums clearance projects in Jika Joe where 192 emergency houses have been completed and are now occupied, progress is witnessed in Groutville, Masinenge and Umzinto housing projects amongst others. Lives have also been changed for the better for all the people of eMahehle, Ofafa, KwaGcothoyi, Ezicole, Ebatshe and many other rural parts of KwaZulu-Natal which have been provided with electricity. The ANC government is indeed doing its level best to transform the lives of our people.

ON COMMONWEALTH GAMES

A comprehensive update on South Africa's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban was also presented and the PEC strongly believes that the event will have enormous spin-offs as it will better position our country for tourism and inward investment. The people of KwaZulu-Natal will be major beneficiaries if this giant event is organised in Durban. The ANC fully supports the bid because we believe that it will not only boost our economy but will also assist us to continue uniting our people who were divided during the apartheid rule.

ON DEMARCATION

The ANC is aware of the concerns that have been raised by certain communities in the province relating to the demarcation process. As a leader of society, we are prepared to listen to these communities so that their concerns can be processed by relevant structures.

ON ETHEKWINI REGIONAL CONFERENCE

The ANC in the eThekwini Region held its elective conference last month and the outcome of the conference was challenged by comrades who complained that there were three wards which were not supposed to participate in the conference as they had been disqualified during the audit. The ANC National officials have since called for the conference to be reconvened. It must be stated that the office of the General Secretary had suggested before the conference that these wards not be allowed to participate.

After robust and sober engagement, the PEC collectively adopted the decision of the national leadership that there is a need for the conference to be reconvened so that all comrades can be satisfied. The provincial leadership has since briefed the regional leadership and branches about this decision and they have also agreed that there is a need for this process to unfold. We call on our structures to cooperate so that this process can be speeded up. The process of reconvening the conference will be determined by the PEC soon.

ON UNITY AND COHESION

The ANC has noted media reports which unfortunately paint a wrong picture that the ANC leadership in KwaZulu-Natal is divided. We want to state categorically clear that this is just people's figment of imagination and we call on our members not to be hoodwinked by these misleading claims. We have no doubt that these reports are fueled by those who want to deliberately create divisions in our movement and we will not allow this to happen because unity in our organisation is paramount and sacrosanct. Our leadership is united and the ANC and its government continue implement its programmes.

Statement issued by Sihle Zikalala, ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, March 3 2015

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