ANC statement on the outcomes of the Special National Executive Committee held on 17 September 2021

17 September 2021

The National Executive Committee (NEC) met in special session on Friday, 17 September 2021 to consider the draft ANC Local Government Election Manifesto, assess progress regarding the selection and registration of ANC candidates, and to ensure the implementation of the ANC's programme of election work.

The NEC decided that our Election Manifesto will be launched by the President of the ANC, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, on 27 September in the City of Tshwane.

The NEC expressed its sincere appreciation to the ANC Electoral Committee, chaired by Cde Kgalema Motlanthe, the Provincial List Committees, Regional Interview and Verification Panels, the team led by the Deputy Secretary General, as well as all comrades who worked tirelessly to ensure the ANC will be in a position to register complete candidate lists with the Independent Electoral Committee on 20 — 21 September 2021.

The NEC also commended the vibrancy and resolve of ANC structures who insisted on adhering to guidelines and procedures of the movement.

The NEC affirmed the importance of local government as the frontline of service delivery to households, communities, as well as public and private entities. Over the past twenty-seven years, municipalities, led by the African National Congress have provided water, sanitation, houses, electricity, sports grounds and parks in hundreds of communities across the country.

However, there are many weaknesses that need to be corrected; and we have crafted a programme to intensify the implementation of corrective measures so we can move faster in improving people's quality of life.

The ANC's unique and representative process of selecting candidates will ensure a higher level of accountability of our councillors and mayoral committees to communities. In this regard the establishment of an independent ANC Electoral Committee has proven to be a correct decision, ensuring greater involvement of communities in our candidate-selection processes.

The NEC noted with appreciation that the overwhelming majority of our structures ran credible and inclusive processes, involving communities across the length and breadth of the country.

The ANC's efforts to renew and rebuild our movement and broader society are steadily but surely starting to bear fruit.

The NEC also registered concern about the instances of disputes, alleged misconduct, transgressions and manipulation of the list process.

The meeting agreed that these allegations must be investigated and where necessary appropriate disciplinary measures must be implemented.

The NEC condemned in the strongest terms incidents of violence that occurred during the candidate selection process and in particular the recent drive-by shooting of community members participating the candidate selection process in Inanda, Kwazulu-Natal.

The ANC will continue to co-operate with law enforcement agencies to ensure culprits are brought to book.

The NEC re-iterated its commitment to ensuring that any remaining disputes are appropriately processed even after the election.

Further, the NEC will, after the election, consider the recommendations of the Electoral Commission in greater detail in order to ensure that we build in greater safeguards for our candidate-selection processes.

The NEC agreed there is a need to intensify our efforts to eradicate factionalism from our structures. No-one must use any leader's name to advance personal or factional interests.

The NEC welcomes the IEC's open voter registration weekend on 18 — 19 September 2021 and urges all unregistered voters to go to their nearest voting station to register to vote in the Local Government Election scheduled for 1 November 2021.

In particular the NEC urges all those who have turned 18 since the last election to register to vote. Young people have a vitally important role to play in local government in contributing to communities that are safe, economically vibrant and socially cohesive and inclusive.

The NEC commended the revolutionary and selfless decision by ANC staff to suspend their strike with immediate effect and to put all their energies to work for a decisive ANC victory in the Local Government Elections.

The NEC noted that, as less than six weeks remain to the Local Govemment Elections, the movement must act as one, based on our principled positions and guided by our unwavering commitment to work with the people in building a better life for all.

Issued by Pule Mabe, National Spokesperson, 17 September 2021