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The African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC)
delegation, led by Malusi Gigaba and Fikile Mbalula concluded their visit to
the Sakhile Township in Standerton - Mpumalanga, yesterday the 15 October
2009.

The task team is finalising its report which will be presented to the ANC
National Working Committee (NWC) this coming Monday, the 19th October 2009.
The NWC will then interact with the report accordingly. We call upon the
Sakhile community to give the ANC time to consider their service and other
concerns as raised with the task team yesterday and furthermore, to stop
disturbing learners and workers from going to school and work respectively.
The ANC has a deep understanding of the seriousness and the impact that lack
of service delivery has in the lives of our people.

The ANC, however, strongly condemns all criminal acts in the form of
violence, destruction of State and private property, and looting of shops in
some parts of the country under the guise of "service delivery protests". We
call on our branches to work with all organs of civil society in ensuring
that any service delivery issues are properly raise with either government
or the ANC.

We are very concerned with the issues raised around service delivery and we
commit ourselves to leave no stone unturned to address such grievances.
It is in this context that our President, Jacob Zuma will on 20 October
2009, meet with more than 283 Executive Mayors and Mayors accompanied by
their Municipal Managers, to discuss the state of local government and
service delivery improvement in the local government sphere.

"We want them to know that the people come first in everything we do, and we
want excellence. There is no place for complacency, cynicism, or excuses "
the President said in the ANC today, dated 16 October 2009.

Mindful of the importance of face-to-face communication, we appreciate the
commitment made by the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Minister Sicelo Shiceka to visit affected areas to listen and find solutions
to the people's concerns.

The Alliance Summit scheduled for mid November will also discuss at great
length the reasons and solutions for service delivery protests in our
country.

The NEC in its end of November meeting will also dedicate a better part of
the meeting to find ways and means of improving service delivery. All the
above activities and commitments by the ANC, clearly indicates that the ANC
would like and will find lasting solutions to legitimate service delivery
challenges in all our municipalities.

We again reiterate that any legitimate concern that our people might have in
the country around service delivery should be raised in a non-violent
manner. We have always listened to our people and we will always respond in
a manner that continues to better the lives of our people.