The Gauteng African Nation Congress (ANC) provincial conference held in Pretoria over the weekend was declared a success by the party on Monday, notwithstanding the election of controversial former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu as an additional member of the Provincial Executive Committee. 

Mahlangu was implicated in the Life Esidimeni scandal where more than 140 mentally ill patients had died after being moved from Life Esidimeni in 2016.

The conference, attended by more than 1 500 delegates, elected new provincial leaders and further adopted a set of resolutions and plans with a focus on improving the quality of life of people living in Gauteng, in line with the decisions of the ANC’s 54th National Conference, held in December 2017.

The conference delegates appointed David Makhura as the provincial chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi as deputy, controversial Jacob Khawe as provincial secretary, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko as his deputy and Parks Tau as provincial treasurer.

President Cyril Ramaphosa implored participants to “discuss how the idea of radical economic transformation can be realised at grassroots level”.

He further called on delegates to ensure that the conference formulates “clear answers on how the pace of service delivery will be accelerated and access to basic services improved”.

The conference adopted comprehensive resolutions and plans to address the socioeconomic problems of the people Gauteng by placing the people at the centre of politics, governance and economics, the party said.

It is a plan aimed at finding resonance with the youth and women of Gauteng, the working class and middle strata, including townships and informal settlements, and addresses the economy and jobs, deals decisively with crime and corruption and a plan to campaign against the high cost of living.

“The branches of the ANC in Gauteng have never spoken more clearly than through the kind of team they have bequeathed us. It is an energized, vibrant, strong and winning team comprising of talented men and women, young and old comrades who collectively are a force to be reckoned with,” said the party in a statement.

LAND, ECONOMY AND SKILLS

The decision to immediately proceed with ‘rapid land release’ was taken at the conference, with the party saying it would not wait for the parliamentary constitutional review process.

The conference received and welcomed a report on the controversial e-tolls and called on the provincial government to expedite its negotiation with national government to find a permanent solution to the saga.

Delegates also called for vigilance around corruption in the public and private sectors.

All technical and vocational education and training colleges in Gauteng will be upgraded to meet technology and infrastructure standards, to produce a skilled workforce that will be equipped for opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“The Provincial Conference has paid sufficient attention to the need for Gauteng to increase the number of cadres with the relevant skills, experience and qualification in the ranks of the movement and as such resolved to embark on a deliberate programme to ensure that we recruit and train young people,” said the ANC.