ANC statement on the outcome of the NWC Meeting of 27 October 2008

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ANC meeting in Johannesburg on Monday 27th October 2008, received extensive reports about the Regional General Councils convened in all the provinces between the weekend of 18th October and the present.

All the reports confirmed the NWC's assessment that the ANC as a movement remains stable and that despite the recent activities of a number of dissident members who are un-reconciled to the outcomes of the ANC National Conference held in Polokwane during December 2007, the overwhelming majority of the ANC's support base remain loyal to the movement and its objectives.

These Regional General Councils (RGCs) attended by delegates from ANC branches had been specifically convened to galvanise the ANC's organisational structures in preparation for the forthcoming voter registration drive, due to commence on 7th November. Among other things the RGCs also discussed the new challenge posed by the emergence of a new political formation in opposition to the ANC.

It is the considered view of the NWC that all South Africans have the untrammelled right to join and form any political organisation they wish. Provided that such a political body operates within the parameters of the Constitution, the rights of adherents and supporters must be respected in law and by other political players. That includes the right to convene and hold public meetings without fear of disruption by others who hold a contrary view.

The NWC therefore condemns, unequivocally any acts of disruption that interfere with or impair the rights of others to assemble peacefully. In that spirit, the NWC calls on all members and supporters of the ANC to allow those who hold dissenting views to meet and proceed with their business without let or hindrance.

As a political formation with a long record of fighting for and defending human rights, the ANC cannot however permit those who feel they can no longer associate with the movement to employ its structures to organise and mobilise its own membership in opposition to the ANC.

Such activity, undertaken with whatever motive/s, is equivalent to actively disrupting the ANC in violation of the principles if freedom of assembly. The NWC therefore addresses an appeal to those who act in sympathy with the dissidents to take their activities outside the ANC where they will have the absolute right, like all the other opposition parties, to organise and mobilise the South African public in support of the cause they espouse. The NWC encourages, members of the ANC to express their views freely in letters to editors as well as on radio talk shows. It is the ANC who is the champion of freedom of speech.

The NWC is concerned with the bias shown by the SABC in the coverage of an entity with no political name, nor a constitution to guide its utterances and actions. This lays bare the public to exhibitions of rhetoric that is blatantly emotional, often without fact and intended to be divisive. Lekota and his ilk even publicly declare that they will endeavour to have an alternative labour formation.

Mosiuoa Lekota and Mluleki George, both members of the ANC, have taken the lead in organising this emergent political formation, have been summarily suspended and have been summoned to face disciplinary charges before the relevant organisational structures. The NWC has urged the National Disciplinary Committee to convene these hearings as speedily as possible so that the matter can be disposed of. Mosiuoa Lekota and Mluleki George will be expected to respond to the charges laid against them in the manner prescribed by the ANC Constitution.

The ANC shall not allow itself to be distracted from programme of action it adopted at its NEC plenum, namely to mobilise its membership and supporters for a Voter Registration drive, concentrating especially on new voters, the youth and working people of all races and creeds.

In the last instance it is the South African voting public who will determine the direction our country takes in the future and no group let of individuals, no matter what their public profile or how highly motivated. As such the ANC will devote itself to the immediate challenge of fielding an effective electoral slate for the forthcoming elections which it is determined to win with a convincing majority.

Statement issued by the National Working Committee of the African National Congress October 27 2008