ANC 4TH NATIONAL POLICY CONFERENCE REPORT

Consolidated Report on Organisational Renewal

1. Introduction

The National Policy Conference engaged with the document on Organisational Renewal: Building the ANC as a Movement for Transformation and a Strategic Centre of Power recognising that renewal is principally about building the ANC's resilience, enhancing its transformative capacity and its ability to adapt to changing situations so that it can continue to serve and lead the people. The strategic thrust of the discussion document was embraced by the Conference.

The continuous renewal of the ANC over the century of its existence has always been guided by the nature and content of the struggle against apartheid colonialism and its legacy as elaborated in its Strategy and Tactics. The ANC has always understood that to lead the NDR successfully, it has to renew itself so that it remains relevant to the changing conditions of struggle both locally as well as internationally.

Having agreed that the new phase in our transition from Apartheid colonialism to a National Democratic Society will be characterised by more radical policies and decisive action to effect thorough-going socio-economic and continued democratic transformation, the National Policy Conference concluded that this will require a renewed and more vibrant ANC, the Alliance and the broad democratic forces.

This new phase will require maximum unity of the ANC and the Alliance, enabling us to sharpen our capacity to advance this programme and defend the NDR. It also requires that we build maximum unity of South Africa's people and the broadest range of sectors of our society around this programme.

The Policy Conference reviewed the experiences of the past 100 years of selfless struggle in order to draw lessons for the future. In this regard, the movement's strengths and weaknesses and priorities for organisational renewal were identified in order to reposition the ANC as we commence the revolutionary journey towards the second century.

2. Lessons from the 100 years of selfless struggle

Over the past 100 years, the ANC has survived due to, among others:

• Its deep roots and connection with the people;
• Vibrant internal democracy and collective leadership;
• Readiness and willingness of its members to make sacrifices in pursuit of the cause of the people as a whole;
• Readiness to acknowledge its weaknesses and decisively address them in order to escalate and accelerate the people's struggle;
• Ability to adapt to changing conditions and rise to the occasion at critical moments;
• Ability to uphold and build unity a cross section of South Africans and progressive forces in the world in pursuit of the cause of humanity.

3. The National Policy Conference agrees that:

a. On Cadre policy

• The neglect of cadre policy is at the centre of most of the current weaknesses and challenges faced by our movement in the post-1994 era. The Policy Conference reaffirms the perspective that our revolution will only succeed if the movement continuously produces a contingent of cadres who are conscious, competent, committed, disciplined and conscientious.
• The ANC and the Alliance should, collectively and individually, should pay urgent and systematic attention to the task of developing a contingent of cadres who have attributes that accord with the tasks of the national democratic revolution in the second phase. Accordingly, the Policy Conference further recommend that the 53rd National Conference should declare the next decade a Decade of the Cadre in which there will be a key focus on the ideological, political, academic and moral training of a critical mass of ANC members.
• The One Million Members Campaign should be buttressed by a national programme to develop and transform most ANC members into activists and cadres who will be at the cutting edge of the on-going struggle fundamental political, social and economic transformation of our country. Accordingly, ANC members should understand fully what it takes for a member to go through the full cycle of becoming and remaining a tried and tested cadre. It must be clear that joining the ANC is the beginning of a long journey towards becoming a cadre.
• In the new phase of the NDR, deployment should always be preceded by systematic academic, ideological, and ethical training and political preparation. Cadre Deployment should be underpinned by a rigorous system of monitoring and evaluation of the performance of cadres deployed and elected to leadership positions. This will avoid a situation wherein leadership assessment and evaluation take place only in the run-up to conferences.
• It is in this spirit that the establishment and rollout of the ANC's comprehensive political school system - national, provincial, regional, sub-regional/zonal and branch level - is an urgent task during the Decade of the Cadre.
• The ANC veterans and former combatant of MK should be deployed in the programme of rolling out the political education cadreship development programme. This applies to individuals whose conduct is beyond reproach. The proposal that cadre deployment should also consider academic qualifications.
• The ANC should adopt a programme to raise the level of literacy, education and skills among its members as part of the nation-wide campaign to make education and training a national priority.
• The ANC should be a specific focus on the recruitment, political and ideological training of students and young intellectuals

b. Safeguarding the core values

• Having noted that the gradual erosion of the core values of the ANC threatens its continuing existence in the second centenary, the Policy Conference agrees unanimously that safeguarding and promoting the core values of the ANC constitute one of the key tasks of new phase of the NDR. The promotion of our core values should be undertakenwithin the context the ideological struggle to cultivate progressive values among all South Africans as part of building a national democratic society.
• Reaffirms the NGC resolution on the setting up of the Integrity Commissions at all levels of the organisation. The proposals contained in the renewal document on the role of the Integrity Commission were fully supported.
• More urgent steps should be taken to protect the image of the organisation and enhance its standing in society by ensuring, among others, that urgent action is taken to deal with public officials, leaders and members of the ANC who face damaging allegations of improper conduct. In addition, measures should be put in place to prevent abuse of power or office for private gain or factional interests. The ANC can no longer allow prolonged processes that damage its integrity.
• The proposed rules on lobbying are supported and they should be included in conference rules and enforced by a specific structure established by the organisation. However, there was no support for the idea that those wishing to stand for election should be given an organisational platform to campaign. There is no consensus on the establishment of permanent electoral commission. Further debates will be necessary on this matter.
• The delegates emphatically condemned factionalism as well as the practice of slates during conferences. In addition, delegates called for the ANC to tackle the underlying roots of these problematic practices which undermine the unity and cohesion of the movement. A clarion call was made on the organisation to collectively develop new measures to stop these negative practices and not just condemn them while practically allow them to take root.
• Political discipline is a necessary ingredient without which no organisation can achieve its goals. In this regard, Policy Conference reaffirms the NGC's call for firm and consistent action to instil discipline across all levels of the organization without fear or favour. Instilling discipline is a process that includes political education, correcting personal and social conduct that impinges upon the integrity of the ANC as well as consistent disciplinary action against anyone who violates the ANC Constitution and Code of Conduct.
• The Policy Conference mandated the NEC to draft a separate booklet on the ANC Code of Conduct for discussion and adoption at the 53rd National Conference. While supporting the spirit of including veterans in the disciplinary processes of the ANC, the Policy Conference did not support the proposal that Disciplinary Committees (DCs) should be composed mainly by veterans because it is not practical due to the number of veterans required to be in DCs at all levels.
• Branches should be given the full authority to take disciplinary action without applying to the PWC. Branches should be trained on how to conduct disciplinary proceedings.
• ANC members who are public representatives should not have the automatic right of appeal to the NDCA but be treated like all members of the ANC.
• The use of courts to resolve internal organisational matters should be frowned upon and strongly be discouraged among ANC members. The ANC Constitution should make it clear that ANC members who resort to the court to solve internal organisational matters will be sanctioned.
• The ANC members who are found guilty of wrongdoing in other institutions of society should also be subjected to internal disciplinary processes in line with the ANC Code of Conduct. This will send an unambiguous message in society that the ANC does not tolerate any wrongdoing, including corruption, among its members.

c. Strengthening organisational design

• The Policy Conference agreed that, as a matter of principle, the ANC organisational structure should be based on the ANC Strategy and Tactics. In particular, the pillars of the NDR should be the main basis on which our organisation is structured.
• The size of the NEC (i.e. directly elected members) should be reduced from 80 to 60. In order to qualify for election into the NEC, a candidate should have been a member of the ANC for at least 10 years, with a proven track record of leadership at other levels or in other sectors of society. In addition, a candidate should have undergone training from the ANC political school system.
• Headquarters should restructured along five departments - Political Education and Cadreship Development; Organisation and Mass Mobilisation; Information and Publicity; Governance, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation; International Relations - should be headed by full-time NEC members. Such NEC members should be appointed by the NEC in its first sitting, in accordance with their skills, competence and integrity. Those appointed should serve the entire five-year term and not be allowed to opt for other deployments during the course of the five-year term of the NEC. Although the SGO coordinates all departments, policy should remain in the Presidency of the ANC.
• The NEC and NWC should rotate their meetings in different provinces, after which there will be direct interaction with local structures and communities.
• Further discussions are required on the structure of the NWC.
• The size of the PEC should be increased to 30. The number of full-time PEC and REC members should also be increased as per the Organisational Renewal discussion document. Again, such members should be appointed by the respective PECs and RECs after conference.
• Branches should be re-organised to strengthen their work in communities and be the champion of political leadership, socio-economic transformation, local democracy and development. It was further agreed that the current ward-based model should retained, while sub-branches should be established at VD level. The composition of the BEC should also be retained. The NEC needs to develop guidelines on the launch of branches and sub-branches. The proposal to cap the maximum number of members per branch was not supported.
• The membership audits should be continuous and not just for elective conferences. Audits should be done by cadres of the movement who understand the ANC and not inexperienced comrades. The audit should verify the functionality and activism of the branch and membership, not just the numbers.
• Reaffirms the NGC resolution on the need to resolve the problems of the membership system as part of the modernisation of the ANC due to the failure of the ANC to issue membership cards discourages members from renewing their membership.There should be a temporary card for a new member before membership cards are issued.
• Probation period should be extended from eight weeks to six months. During the probation period, the applicants should undergo six months political education and undertake community work as part of preparing them to understand and practically appreciate the role of ANC members as the servant of the people and leaders in society.
• The practice wherein ANC members are elected to serve, simultaneously in more than one constitutional structure, should not be allowed. The ANC Constitution should be amended accordingly to prohibit this practice.
• In order to qualify for election into the PEC, members should have served for 7 years, 5 years for REC, 3 years for sub-region and 2 years for BEC.
• Having noted that it is currently not feasible to have full-time branch organisers across the country, it was agreed that all regions should have full-time Regional Organisers who should service branches regularly.
• People who are returning to the ANC after having joined other parties should be treated as new members who will have to serve six months probation, undergo political education and undertake community work.

d. The Leagues, MKMVA, Young Pioneers and Volunteer Corps

• Reaffirm the role and relationship of the Leagues with the ANC as stated in the ANC Constitution. However, Commissions agreed that the ANC needs to take active interest in ensuring that the Leagues understand and play their full role in line with the purpose for which they were founded. This includes making sure that the ANCWL and ANCYL undergo compulsory political training conducted by the ANC as part of cadreship development.
• Presidents of the Leagues should be referred to as National Chairpersons so that there is clarity that the organisation has only one President at a time. After concerns were raised on how we are dealing with this matter, it was greed this proposal will be further debated in the context of a comprehensive review of the Leagues in the run-up to the 53rd National Conference.
• The resolutions of Polokwane Conference and the NGC on the status and role of MKMVA were reaffirmed.
• The need to re-establish the Young Pioneers (Masupatsela) and launch the Volunteer Corps.

e. The Alliance

• Reaffirm the on-going relevance and role of the Alliance in the national democratic revolution. Commissions further agreed that steps need to be taken to enhance the unity of purpose of the Alliance through the diligent implementation of an agreed joint programme of action.
• A detailed programme of renewal in order to ensure that all Alliance structures are positioned to play a complimentary role in carrying the tasks of the NDR. In particular, a call was made to improve relations and programmatic cooperation sub-national levels.
• The Alliance should also work together to build and revive structures of the mass democratic movement and progressive NGOs and civil society.
• The Alliance should also work together to clarify the tasks of and relationship between of public sector unions and the democratic state and further ensure that the civic movement is strengthened to play a strategic and proactive role in community development and local struggles for transformation.

f. Financial sustainability

• The Policy Conference expressed serious concerns about the perennial uncertainty about the ANC's financial position. Commissions agreed that decisive steps have to be taken to secure the financial sustainability and financial independence of the movement. The proposals to address these financial challenges were enthusiastically debated.
• Public funding should be expanded in order to promote and support democracy. Such funding will be accompanied by full financial accountability and transparency by political parties, including regulation of private financing of political parties.
• The ANC should participate in the economy, through various activities such as setting up business to provide goods and services as well as building an investment portfolio. Regulation of party-linked investment vehicles should also be introduced to avoid conflict of interest which will result in compromising the integrity of the movement.
• The membership fees should be increased from R12 to R20 for all members.
• The Policy Conference expressed serious concern about the failure to implement the 52nd National Conference resolution on the allocation of full membership fee to branches. The NEC was instructed to implement this resolution as part of strengthening the capacity of branches to carry out their key tasks in communities.
• All Branches should promptly open bank accounts.
• All ANC members who earn an income should contribute equitably to the movement by paying a levy, according to their ability.
• The NEC was further instructed to speedily implement Polokwane Conference resolution on the reallocation of MPL's levies to provinces and Councillors' levies to regions.
• Foreign funding should be permitted but must be regulated to avoid abuse and manipulation by external forces in the political affairs of our country.
• All financial donations made to the organization should be deposited into the bank accounting to eliminate abuse and that fundraising should be limited to those who are authorized to so.
• We should introduce financial management module in the political education program for ANC members who are charged with the responsibility to manage finances of the organization.
• The NEC should to address the problem of high bank charges from FNB, including a possibility to use the Postbank.

g. Decade-long programme of action

• Conference unanimously adopted the decade-long programme of action proposed Chapter 13 of the Organisational Renewal document.
• Conference further agreed that Cadre Policy should be the centre-piece of organisational renewal. In this regard, Conference further agreed to recommend to the 53rd National Conference to declare the next decade theDecade of the Cadre.
• Conference acknowledged that organisational renewal will not be an easy task. However, Conference was unanimous in the view that whatever difficulties we may face along the way, we willing to accomplish this task urgently. This includes introducing new ways of doing things.

h. Constitutional implications

• All recommendations that have constitutional implications should be processed into proposed constitutional amendments by the NEC Constitutional Sub-Committee and be dealt with in accordance with Rule28 of the ANC Constitution.
• The proposals on the size of the NEC have implications for the nomination process in the run-up to Mangaung Conference.

This document first appeared in ANC Today, the weekly online newsletter of the African National Congress

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