ANC STATEMENT ON THE OUTCOME OF MOSES MABHIDA CONFERENCE

 The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday concluded its successful two-day Moses Mabhida Region elective conference. Just like other regional conferences completed last year and early this year, the Moses Mabhida Region conference was also characterised by robust engagements and the high level of discipline which is sacrosanct in the movement.

Hundreds of delegates who packed the Howick Indoor Center, paid respect to Cde liberation struggle icon Nokuhamba Nyawo and Inkosi  Everson Thobigunya Xolo who were laid to rest this weekend. Cde Nyawo played a critical role in the struggle, as she was part of the underground structures that provided support to cadres of Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) who were hiding in the caves in Ingwavuma.

 Inkosi Xolo was also a distinguished political and traditional leader who worked tirelessly to bring peace and stability in Port Shepstone during political violence. Despite attacks, Inkosi continued to preach peace and promoted tolerance amongst his community.  Both Cde Nyawo and Cde Xolo have left an impossible to remove mark and they will never be forgiven in our movement. Delegates commended President Cde Jacob Zuma for declaring a special provincial funeral for Cde Nyawo, who was recently awarded the Order of Luthuli by the president.

The conference was officially opened by ANC KwaZulu-Natal secretary Cde Sihle Zikalala who gave a very powerful political statement which defined the role of the ANC in building a non racial society and accelerating service delivery. It also thoroughly outlined the challenges that the ANC-led municipalities in the Moses Mabhida Region have to tackle to speed up the much-needed service delivery.

Delegates looked at a number of ANC policies and drew up a clear programme of action aimed at uniting ANC members and the society at large. Although the ANC in the Moses Mabhida Region performed well during the last local government elections, it has noted with concern the decline of its support among Coloureds and Indians. As a movement that discourages the polarization of the society along the racial lines, the ANC strongly believes that winning the support of Indian and coloured communities in the region is fundamentally important.

It is worth mentioning that during the 2011 local government elections, the ANC in the Moses Mabhida Region received 63.7percent, a 1.4 percent growth from the 2006 local government elections. The fact that the ANC controls all eight municipalities in the region shows that people have hope in our movement and committed themselves to going out to win the hearts of people from the minorities.

Delegates also noted with appreciation that the ANC membership has  grown phenomenally from8000 in 2008 to 34100 in 2012 and further committed themselves to ensuring that the membership growth, going forward should be underpinned by a vigorous political education programme.

The conference also engaged on problems that happened in the Moses Mabhida Region during the deployment of cadres during the local government elections. The engagement was frank and it was not about pointing fingers on who did what but its intention was to correct weaknesses. Delegates vowed to make sure that the problems which saw some comrades camping at regional offices do not happen again. The intervention instituted by the ANC provincial leadership has shown that the ANC has the ability and capacity of dealing with its own challenges.

The conference also reaffirmed the ANC's commitment is ensuring that administration problems that happened in the Umsunduzi Municipality a few years ago never happen to ensure that the organisation deals with the triple challenges as expressed by president Zuma. Through the help of the ANC and the provincial government it leads, the Umsunduzi Municipality has navigated out of its financial doldrums.

Delegates noted attempts by some ANC members to distabilise the ANC and undermine its leadership under president Zuma.  Delegates pledged their support, commitment, unwavering and undying support to the national leadership led by Zuma. They called for the national leadership to enforce discipline without fear, favour or prejudice to all people who seek o undermine the ANC.

 The new Moses Mabhida Region leaders were elected as follows:

Alpha Shelembe (Chairperson)

Mthandeni Dlungwane (Deputy chairperson)

Super Zuma (Secretary)

Mbali Myeni (Deputy secretary)

ThulaniXulu (Treasurer)

Statement issued by Sihle Zikalala, ANC KZN provincial secretary, March 12 2012

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