STATEMENT OF THE ANC NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE
The ANC National Working Committee (NWC) held a regular meeting in Johannesburg yesterday (17 November 2008).
The meeting reviewed the visits by ANC President Jacob Zuma to several provinces. During the course of the last few weeks Zuma has met with various sectors in each province, conducted door-to-door work, addressed public meetings and rallies, and met with ANC structures and election volunteers.
Among the issues raised with him during these discussions were the cost of living, education, crime, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and unemployment. Members of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) will follow up on these meetings in all provinces.
Visits to many towns, villages and cities show that youth in particular are interested and engaged in the political process. This is demonstrated by the high proportion of youth who registered to vote during the IEC's registration weekend.
Zuma is completing his visit to provinces with a visit to Limpopo this week and Eastern Cape next week.
These visits are part of broad consultation in preparation of the ANC's 2009 election manifesto. The NWC noted progress in the consultation process, which has been given new impetus with the launch last week of a popular campaign to elicit suggestions from the South African public.
Under the theme, 'My ANC, My Vision, My Future', this campaign allows the public to submit suggestions by post, e-mail and SMS. The suggestions will be collated into a report to the ANC's manifesto policy conference. As the manifesto team works to finalise the manifesto it will continue to consider suggestions.
Over 500 suggestions had been received in the first two days of the campaign.
The manifesto policy conference, which will be held in Johannesburg on 29 November to 1 December, will be attended by delegates from ANC and Alliance structures, deployed cadres, and other sectors of the MDM.
The conference will consider and approve a manifesto framework, which will be finalised by the end of December.
The NWC noted reports of political intolerance over recent days. The ANC strongly condemns all forms of political intolerance, intimidation or violence. It will act against any ANC members who are found to be engaging in such activity.
This is a matter that the ANC will continue to monitor closely, and will take whatever steps necessary to stamp out such practices. It urges other political parties to take a similarly firm line.
The NWC expressed concern about an incident in Verulam in KwaZulu Natal where members of an ANC branch were sent text messages inviting them to attend a meeting convened under the banner of the grouping headed by Mosiuoa Lekota and Mbhazima Shilowa. The ANC urges all parties to desist from provocative and opportunistic actions of this sort.
The NWC discussed what appears to be a sustained campaign in the media to belittle ANC Youth League President Julius Malema, and to position him and the Youth League as being at odds with the policies of the ANC.
It noted that the media has a tendency to cover comments made by Malema in a selective and often inaccurate manner, ignoring the consistent policy pronouncements of the ANC Youth League.
The ANC will continue to engage in a frank manner with the leadership of the ANC Youth League to provide political support and guidance, so that the league functions as an effective training ground for a new generation of cadres.
Statement issued by spokesperson Jessie Duarte on behalf of the African National Congress National Working Committee November 18 2008
