Remarks by ANC Secretary Cde Fikile Mbalula during a media briefing on the sidelines of NEC meeting at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg

21 April 2023

We gather today, as the highest decision making body in between our conferences, three days before we mark the 30 year anniversary of the passing of our beloved leader and architect of our liberation and democracy — Comrade President OR Tambo. We also gather close to the eve of marking the 30yrs of freedom, in this city where comrade Chris Hani was brutally killed.

Therefore, as we gather, we are cognisant of our historic mission as liberator of our society has not been entirely fulfilled.

We gather to further elaborate and take stock of the measures we have implemented towards "decisive action to advance the people's interests and renew our movement.

As we reflect, renew, reinvigorate and evaluate we remain cognisant of the words of that gallant, towering and colossal leader in Comrade President Oliver Tambo who once said:

We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity.

There can be no tangible freedom, peace and prosperity if the 7,5% of South Africans who live with a disability continuously feel excluded. The majority of these live in the poorest and most underdeveloped provinces of the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Eastern Cape. In line with the motto Of Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), which says "nothing about us without us" we have invited the President of the DPSA to offer us a first-hand insight on the challenges and potential solutions to ensure that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black or white, able bodied or with disabilities!!

There also cannot be any hope for prosperity, if our energy crises are not addressed. As we speak the Economic Transformation Committee (ETC) is briefing the NEC, following the political overview of the President. We will not be second guessed, thus the NEC subcommittee and the Minister will brief you on the outcomes of our engagements.

Ours is not a desire to posture, but rather one which seeks to understand and implement lasting solutions to the energy crises. We take this opportunity to reiterate the National Conference and Lekgotla outcomes to ensure that we end this once and for all. We are pleased with the evaluations of Cde Sputla, and look forward to mobilising all of society behind the decisive actions which we shall emerge from this NEC meeting with.

Of course the solutions related to energy are not an end in themselves, but are an important contributor to ensuring shared and lasting prosperity for all. Thus we welcome the progress on attracting investment to South Africa and the surpassing of the Investment mobilisation target by the President, his investment team and all of government.

Indeed the time for talk has long gone and we are an ANC in action. We will therefore spend some time considering key areas we need to unlock to ensure greater and faster growth. These partially hinge on a functional and quality infrastructure including rail, road, ICT, and social infrastructure.

Amongst key issue we will therefore discuss is the make-up and challenges faced by the national logistics system. In part, the underperformance of the system has seen the continental position decline of the some of our key national ports, including the Durban Port and OR Tambo International. We applaud the work done in raising the profile and quality of services here, but we must place our shoulders to the wheel and ignite this and other key sectors of our economy.

This cannot be achieved in the context of lawlessness and increasing crime. Whereas, we must redouble our efforts to apprehend and keep the criminals in jail. We must not divorce the crime levels to intonational balance of force which seek to see all progressive forces in the world failing.

This desire to fail our progressive agenda, has not left the opposition immune. The key goal is to weaken the ANC from within and outside. It is one which seeks to drive a wedge amongst the disciplined members of the ANC. Indeed Comrade President OR Tambo warned us that: "Beware of the wedge-driver. Thus, the next election is not business as usual, but a true battle of ideas, between the progressive forces and those that desire to see the reliving of our past divided history.

Consequently, it will be the best amongst us, who will make any list or get involved in our campaigns. It is the best who will decisively lead our membership to victory.

This battle of ideas is also one which has taken a global dimension. The realignment of the world away from a unipolar world to a more just world...

Again you will be briefed on the battle cry on internationalism which we seek to drive in the context of a new world order, which the NEC will reflect on, with depth.

It is in this context that we welcome and look forward to the political inputs of the great Son of the Land of the Brave comrade Hage Geingob, at 6pm. After that the SWAPO president will brief the top 7. Indeed, the history of the people of SWAPO and the ANC as well as the MDM, are deeply intertwined.

Not only did we share camps and bread, but it was the UN Security Council Resolution 435 of 1978 that set into play a more mass based Global Anti-Apartheid Movement, which would eventually lead to the liberation of our people.

We will therefore receive a report from the mission led by Cde Obed Bapela, the deputy chair of our Intemational relations Subcommittee, on the inaugural gathering of the progressive forces of the world, which was recently hosted in Russia. We therefore welcome the hosting of BRICS and stand by all the members of BRICS, and their programmes, which seek to ensure a more prosperous, peaceful and inclusive Africa, amongst others.

There will also be discussion on the coalitions and reconfiguration of the Alliance as proposed by the SACP. We will, in due course, take time to brief you on those too. As shall the DSG do on Monday in relation to the intemational balance of forces.

As you are also aware our NWC was in Limpopo and the matters of the VBS still persist. The implementation of the Motlante report will also receive attention in the NEC meeting, and the provinces will also report on the actions they have taken with regards implementation of the recommendations of the report.

We will close with an open session by the President on Sunday, and as the NEC meeting rises we will on Monday, lay a Wreath where President OR Tambo rests, after which at 5pm the President will host our stalwarts and members in a memorial lecture, which we hope you in the media will also attend.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be dedicated to briefing the media and public on the outcomes of the meeting. We know there is the standing commitment of the briefing of the top 7. On one bright Monday we will fulfil that promise.

Issued by Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, National Spokesperson, ANC, 21 April 2023