Programme Director, Cde David Makhura
NEC Deployees here present
PEC Members
Comrades and Compatriots

We are eight weeks away from our national conference that our province is hosting. What this means is that we need all PEC members to be available to be part of overseeing the convening of BGMs and BBGMs and ensuring that discussions and nominations proceed seamlessly and the integrity of the process is not compromised.

As the leadership we must be on the forefront of efforts to ensure that we host a successful conference where we emerge united and having adopted sound, implementable policies and a programme of action. We need to make sure that that conference is not just about elections but it also focuses on policies especially given the challenges that our movement is facing. It is therefore important that as branches meet, they must be preoccupied with finalising inputs into the policy proposals that will be tabled at the national conference.

Comrades, the policies we adopt must assist our movement in reclaiming its role as a leader of society and parliament of the people - a mantle and role it won in struggle. Since its formation some 105 years ago, our beloved movement has championed the cause of the oppressed and downtrodden. It has always been on the side of the people with ANC leaders fighting against apartheid and for freedom and democracy, side by side with the people.

These leaders were inspired by a dream and guided by revolutionary principles, ethos and values. They were upright and had integrity. They were also visionaries and relied on the power of persuasion backed by the supremacy of the ideas they were able to produce. Hence, the ANC survived for more than a century and we are still counting.

As we approach the national conference, we need to look back to where we come from and where we are currently so as we not only draw lessons that will assist in ensuring that our movement rediscover its moral compass but also inspire us to return to the path that will lead to our dream of creating a better life for all our people becoming a reality. Guided by the Freedom Charter, all of us must not only ask ourselves but also answer the difficult questions of how did we arrive where we are? We must look within ourselves and not look for answers outside as this is the only way we can save our movement.

Comrades, the ANC is engulfed by an ever-deepening crisis and it needs all of us to rescue it. The question is what kind of leaders do the ANC need to be able to reclaim its role of being the leader of society and Parliament of the People. What is needed is time-tested cadres who are the best amongst us.

Cadres that will lead without fear or favour. In this respect, we should not let factionalism to rear its ugly head if we are to succeed in turning the situation around. Hence we should abolish factionalism from our approach and agree on a collective of cadres who will not only appeal to us as members but also have traction with society. We have to agree on names of comrades who will contribute to the ANC winning back the confidence of our people.

Given that our people are demanding change if they are to continue to supporting us, the best way of demonstrating that we have not only heard them but are also responsive, we have to stop fighting for positions and stop being involved in corrupt activities and other malfeasances. To stop the rot that is eating away the soul of the ANC, we have to be responsive to society. To achieve this, we need a leadership collective that will be able to reach out to not only our members but also to society in order to mobilise them behind our historic mission of creating a better life for all our people. It has to be a leadership collective that must lead and intensify efforts to win back not only our traditional allies but also other sections of our society for them to support the ongoing project of building a national democratic society.

Comrades, we are talking about a leadership collective that will be at the forefront of efforts to pull the ANC from the precipice. If we are to save the ANC, we have to caution against this self-destructive approach of winner-take-all as the outcome might as well mean the end of the ANC as we have come to know it and this include being dislodged from power in the next general elections. Given this destructive nature of the campaigns, it is time that all the candidates should start talking amongst themselves so as to agree on the best way possible that takes into cognizance the future of our movement. They must place the interests of the movement above narrow, selfish interests like I said on previous occasions.

Hence, the need to explore another approach to the leadership question. We must urge members to consider the option of a consensus leadership where we will persuade one another to agree on the best possible candidates who can lead the ANC’s turn-around project. The initiative to reach a consensus on the leadership collective that should emerge at the national conference should of necessity be guided by the “Through the eye of the needle” document if the outcome is to be credible, legitimate and serve to engender unity and cohesion going forward. The leadership collective must also reflect the demographics of the ANC membership including generational mix.

Comrades, we are meeting today on the heels of another tumultuous week that saw another cabinet reshuffle including the removal of the General Secretary of the SACP as Minister of Higher Education and Training. These are disturbing developments that do not contribute towards the project to turn the fortunes of our movement around and win the confidence of the people back. Truth be told, the current cabinet reshuffle gives an impression of an unstable Government since changing Ministers who have been in their posts for only seven months gives an impression to the nation that Government is not working. This move will also worsen economic decline as it erodes investor confidence!

Politically, the reshuffle fuels tensions within and across the movement and put unnecessary strain on the alliance. Given the challenges that our movement are facing, it is incumbent upon all of us to be circumvent in whatever decisions we make if we are to succeed in rebuilding the African National Congress and returning it to its former glory.

Going forward, it is our wish that the leadership handle this matter differently including proper consultations being conducted so as any changes to the national executive contribute to strengthening its capacity to lead government efforts to build a better life for all our people.

As we engage today, let us take this moment to commend our provincial government, particularly Premier Makhura and MEC Ramokgopa, for continuing to manage the Life Esidimeni matter as families need closure. As the PEC, we stand behind them and wish that the processes that are unfolding ensure that we find one another as government and families of the deceased. Let us also commend MEC Lesufi for the swiftness with which he moved regarding cases of sexual assaults of our schoolchildren. No stone must be left unturned in making sure that those who perpetuated and abetted these dastardly acts against our children are brought to book.

The PEC also notes the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgement on the so-called spy tapes case. It is our hope that this matter is expedited as prolonging it only serve to provide the opposition with ammunition to attack the movement. We would also like to see the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry into state capture also expedited so as those who are implicated are afforded an opportunity to clear their names.

Comrades, we are on course and let us emerge out of this meeting with a clear roadmap towards the national conference!

Amandla!