The African National Congress National Executive Committee (ANC NEC) has stressed the importance of renewal, as well as the rebuilding of the party’s congress, values, integrity and its ability to be an even more effective instrument of liberation.

Treasurer General Paul Mashatile updated the media on the party’s NEC meeting, held over the weekend.

The party’s newly formed Renewal Commission will make recommendations during the party’s 55th National Conference, in December, on the role and state of the party.

The ANC will also strengthen its National Disciplinary Committee and National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals, as recommended by the National Working Committee (NWC), to deal more fairly and quickly with ill-discipline within structures.

The NEC discussed and welcomed the plans for upcoming regional and provincial party conferences.

Mashatile said the relaxed Covid-19 restrictions had allowed ANC structures to rebuild mandates, particularly branches across the country.

To date, 2 300 ANC branches have held biennial branch general meetings.

While the party noted the relaxed Covid-19 regulations, it expressed concern about future waves of the pandemic, especially as government fell short of reaching its target of vaccinating 70% of the adult population.

“The NEC urges all South Africans to get vaccinated, especially young people between the ages of 18 and 35 of whom 6-million are not yet vaccinated. We call upon organisations, trade unions, business and professionals faith-based organisations and other sectoral organisations to work with government to encourage vaccination,” said Mashatile.

Meanwhile, the ANC NEC also welcomed the revitalisation of government Imbizo programmes, which kicked off in the North West this week, to strengthen the link between government and citizens, and to engage citizens on the social compact to tackle unemployment and poverty.

The NEC welcomed the update by the task team on the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by Jeff Radebe. It made recommendations and referrals and a discussion paper by the task team on preventing corruption and State capture will be presented at the ANC NWC meeting in April.

The NEC has also noted violence within its structures and has directed all ANC structures to take disciplinary action against those who engage in violent and criminal behaviour.

It also urged law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute in such instances.