ANC statement on state of readiness for Local Government Elections
6 June 2016
Local Government Elections
The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal has successfully completed a very detailed and inclusive selection process of candidates to represent the movement during the Local Government Elections. Our selection process was very elaborative and affirmed the centrality of our people in Local Governance, the closet sphere of government in our country.
We would like to sincerely thank members and supporters of the ANC who painstakingly subjected themselves to a very involved exercise to determine our representatives. This was, indeed, a very time consuming but necessary process informed by our commitment to the Freedom Charter that the People Shall Govern!
The Provincial Executive Committee calls on all ANC members and supporters to close ranks and rally behind our chosen candidates. On the 12th June 2016, we are launching our provincial manifesto in Harry Gwala stadium, Moses Mabhida region. The launch will be address by the leader of our movement, President Jacob Zuma.
Leaders and cadres of the ANC serve at the behest of our people. We are all expected to execute our responsibilities diligently and competently without expectation for material gains. This is what should have and must continue to inform each one of us as we advance towards the Local Government Elections. All our candidates are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with our value system of integrity, honest, hard work and modesty.
The PEC is also gravely concerned and deeply pained by the escalating number of our leaders who have been senselessly murdered recently and over the past three months. We will continue to place our faith and hope on the ability of the South African Police Service and all law enforcement agencies to uncovered the motives behind these killings.
Assessment of government
The ANC Provincial Executive Committee conducted a detailed assessment on the functioning of all Municipalities and provincial government departments. This is a usual exercise done at least twice a year to ascertain the progress we are making in changing the lives of our people for the better.
The ANC carries this task informed by the understanding that the task to lead a revolution necessitates that we must constantly evaluate our day to day work. During the course of our evaluation and analysis we came to the conclusion that change of leadership is necessary in the following departments:
1. Economic Development and Tourism, Cde Sihle Zikalala
2. Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Cde Mxolisi Kaunda
3. Sports, Arts and Culture, Cde Bongi Sithole-Moloi
4. Education Department, Cde Mthandeni Dlungwane
5. Agriculture and Rural Development, Cde Themba Mthembu
Accordingly, the Provincial Executive Committee has mandated the Premier, comrade Willies Mchunu to make a determination on how to improve the work of these departments in line with the assessment report. Our primary task is to serve the masses of our people who continue to elect the ANC as the government of our province.
Unity and cohesion
The PEC calls on all ANC members and the alliance partners to constantly act in manner that advances the unity of the movement and that of our people. As we enter into the next phase of the election campaign it is incumbent upon all of us to jealously defend the movement and its integrity.
The enormity of our task to build a national democratic society requires that we must speak with one voice and act with a deep sense of unity and purpose. The poor masses of our people depend on the leadership of the African National Congress. We dare not fail them.
Issued by Mdumiseni Ntuli, ANC Provincial Spokesperson, KZN, 6 June 2016
