SAVING THE ANC FOR THE SAKE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S FUTURE

NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE ON THE
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
17 – 19TH NOVEMBER 2017

On the 17th – 19th of November 2017 the Representatives of the Stalwarts and Veterans 101 of the African National Congress and MK Council came together with other sister organisations in a Consultative Conference whose purpose was to analyse the state of health of the ANC. At the end the Consultative Conference the Stalwarts adopted a resolution which bears relevance even today (13 – 08 – 2026) in terms of the issues relating to the health of the organisational health of the ANC.

Earlier in the year on the 30th of June – 5th of July 2017 the ANC held a policy Conference in which the then Secretary General of the ANC Gwede Mantashe presented a paper under the title “A DIAGNOSTIC ORGANISATIONAL REPORT.”

This is what the DIAGNOSTIC REPORT said in part:

The NEC decided that the first two days of the Policy Conference would focus on the health of the organisation. The decision stemmed from being persuaded by the proposal of the veterans and stalwarts to allocate time and space to diagnose the health of the organisation and attempt to come up with solutions and programmes. It was observed that the movement is under siege from external forces, and that internal subjective factors reduce the capacity of the ANC to withstand such an offensive...

The DIAGNOSTIC REPORT CONTINUES….

Since the 2009 General Elections, our electoral performance has been on a decline. Between the General Elections in 2014 and the Local Government Elections in 2016, there was an accelerated decline.

Our intention is to diagnose the causes of the decline, and to utilise the Policy Conference as the beginning of a serious process of self-discovery and self-correction.

This is aimed at continuing the process of introspection, strengthen efforts of the NEC initiated since August 2016 where branches and regions were engaged. The envisaged conclusion being proposed solutions and processes thereto, some of which are made alongside the identified challenges and weaknesses.…. The weaknesses that are described as the manifestation of the decline reduce the capacity of our movement to withstand, fight and defeat the offensive. The intensity of our internal fights makes it impossible for the movement to appreciate the threat to the revolution.

In addressing the decline, the diagnosis will focus on a few key aspects that are in need of urgent attention, that is;

Blurring of the common purpose for the cadres of the movement
The growing trust deficit between the people and their movement
The decline in the ethics, values and traditions of the movement
The impact of the perception of the ANC as entirely corrupt
The poor quality of the branches and the membership in general
The decline in the ideological outlook of the movement
Divisions and factions that have become a seemingly permanent feature of the movement
Rapid collapse of the organisational discipline
Low levels of trust among comrades
Failure to focus on solutions

These are the key challenges which were identified in the DIAGNOSTIC REPORT back in 2017. The dramatis personae may have changed, or they occupy other senior positions of authority within the movement. The question remains however as to whether nine years down the line the challenges identified then have been addressed. It will be noted that the challenges reflected in the resolution of the VETERANS AND STALWARTS 101 are very similar to those identified in the DIAGNOSTIC REPORT.

RADIO FREEDOM HAS TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO REPRODUCE THAT RESOLUTION IN FULL IN THE BELIEF THAT ALMOST NINE YEARS DOWN THE LINE – THAT REOLUTION BEARS RELEVANCE –

RADIO FREEDOM WILL ALSO PUBLISH THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT IN ORDER TO PROVOKE DISCUSSION WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE ANC TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE LEADERSHIP HAS INDEED DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES. IF SO HOW AND IF NOT WHY.

THIS IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT AS THE COUNTRY APPROACHES THE NOVEMBER 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS.

THE ADOPTED RESOLUTION SAID…

WE HAVE COME TOGETHER IN THIS NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE
CONFERENCE

As national representatives of Stalwarts and Veterans of the African National
Congress and MK Council together with our fraternal organisations, SANCO,
COSATU, SACP and ANC Veterans League as well as our allies from the Strategic
Dialogue Group and taking into account the concerns from Civil Society, are all
united by our love and concerns for our country South Africa and the African National
Congress.
We are profoundly committed to the ANC, proud of its role in the achievement of our
democracy and in the progress towards meeting our people’s aspirations as
embodied in the Freedom Charter.

We are deeply troubled by the abandonment of the ANC’s historic values and
principles, which has undermined popular confidence in government, parliament,
state owned entities and other public institutions. This is an unprecedented political
crisis.
We are also deeply hurt by what we regard to be a betrayal of our people’s long
standing support and trust in the ANC.
We observe that the current elected leadership of the ANC is paralysed and unable
to deal with ill-discipline, incompetence and corruption that point directly to the
highest office in the land.
We further observe that parliament and the executive, led by the President has been
found to have failed in their constitutional obligations by the highest court of the land.

We are deeply disturbed by the leadership’s disdain for co-operation with relevant
community-based organisations, thus relinquishing the ANC’s leadership of society.
The mismanagement of our economy has led to unprecedented unemployment rates.
This has exacerbated the levels of poverty amongst the masses of our people.
Women, the marginalised in our society, in particular the youth have suffered
immensely from the full brunt of the leadership’s reckless decisions and
indecisiveness.

The appalling state of the nation’s education system at all levels continues to
promote marginalization of significant sections of our society especially our youth,
which is destroying the lives of future generations.
The increased crime rates and the deplorable insecurity within our vulnerable
communities in the background of the corrupted and dysfunctional policing and
prosecution services together with unrelenting and dehumanizing gender violence,
leaves a sore eye to witness.
We are witness to the moral degeneration in society that is overseen by a self
centred, non-caring leadership that lacks honesty, integrity and a vision for the future.

WE HAVE SEEN THE LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS CAUSE IMMENSE DAMAGE TO THE COUNTRY, AS A RESULT OF:

The systematic looting of public resources by elected representatives and
public servants to the detriment of social cohesion.
The unparalleled capture of state institutions for factional and corrupt
purposes.
The marginalisation of many competent and honest leaders and officials who
sought to protect the country from such dishonourable practices.
Many deplorable instances of assassinations and other forms of violence
relating to political infighting and acts of criminality;
The systematic erosion of the State’s ability to carry out its constitutional
mandate of delivering services to our people;
The failure to implement the transformative social and economic programmes
aimed at improving the lives of our people.
Diminishing the stature and reputation of South Africa and the African
National Congress in the eyes of our people, the sister peoples on the African
continent and the world at large.

WE HAVE SEEN THE CRISIS IN THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS WEAKEN OUR MOVEMENT AND PROMOTE DIVISIONS:

The ANC leadership has fallen prey to forces who seek to advance their own
selfish and corrupt interests which is inconsistent with the values, policy
positions and ethos in the advancement of the National Democratic
Revolution;
Membership of the ANC has come to be seen by some as a path to positions,
personal power, privilege and licence to plunder the state resources.
In government, some members of the ANC have failed to resist and combat
actions that subvert the democratic state.
The ANC-led Alliance is polarised, divided and weakened.
The social distance between elected representatives and the people has
widened and support for the ANC has declined in recent elections.
As many ANC branches have fallen prey to gate keeping, as a result of
factions seeking political office to plunder public resources rather than to
serve the people.
Members who raise their voices in protest against the downward spiral of the
ANC have often been threatened and marginalised.

Our parliamentary caucus has been divided over mechanisms of enforcing
accountability and for restoring the credibility of parliament.
In short, the ANC has relinquished its leadership of society and plunged itself into an
untenable political crisis. This development represents a danger to all South
Africans who love justice and who desire rapid progress towards a better life for all.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS CAN AND MUST BE SAVED

We feel the pain of our people whose enthusiasm, trust and love for the ANC has
been dampened.
We acknowledge that our failure to address these issues timeously has contributed
towards the grave reputational damage, political and moral crisis facing our
organisation and country.
We are however convinced that our movement, with a rigorous, serious and genuine
introspection can self-correct and be rescued from its current crisis.

THIS NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE RECOGNISES THAT

Turning the ANC from its present destructive path will not be a simple matter. A programme of self-correction must build on the ANC’s historic values of service, selflessness and integrity.
Self-correction will require sustained introspection, critical analysis and concerted
action to restore the ANC’s credibility as a leader of society and a humble listening
organization that is rooted amongst the masses of our people it seeks to lead.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE TO SAVE THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS AND SOUTH AFRICA

We are determined to work with many partners who share the historic vision of the ANC to build a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous nation.
We will not allow the ANC to die under our watch.
We believe, with our many years of commitment and contribution, we carry the
wishes and authority of ordinary members of the ANC as well as the millions of our people.
We strongly affirm our belief that this historic National Consultative Conference can help to heal the ills currently afflicting the African National Congress.
We pledge to spread the message of this National Consultative Conference to our
ANC branches its higher structures, the country and the world at large.

WE THEREFORE COMMIT TO CALL FOR THE FOLLOWING

A. THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS NEEDS ORGANIZATIONAL
RENEWAL

The ANC Conference in December 2017, in accordance with rule 11.5 of the
ANC Constitution, establishes a committee to design and develop a renewal document, For the Sake of our Future including a plan of action and oversee a thorough renewal of the ANC structures including the branches as follows amongst others:

To assess and scrutinise the suitability of the elected leadership at all levels in line with the adopted documents, in particular “Through the Eye of the Needle”,
take full advantage of the advances in the information communication technology and management sciences to continue to put in place a better membership system;
communicate effectively with its membership, core constituency and society in general;
introduce progressive management methods in the running of the ANC;
supervise the formulation of practical strategies to ensure that the ANC develops both human and material resources to fulfill its historic task to lead the continuing struggle for the all-round victory of the Democratic Revolution;
promote a value system that obliges its members and those of its members who are in the State apparatus to serve in the interest of the people of South Africa;
oppose all corrupt practices, including the abuse of power by all its members in the organization and all institutions of State to enrich themselves or individuals and/or corporations;
must defeat the establishment of cliques and factions which subvert our united national effort to achieve the inclusive democratic transformation of South Africa in the realisation of the goals of shared prosperity, poverty eradication and reduction of inequality in a growing economy;
work together with society for the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society;
respect for and the strengthening of the institutions of the democratic State;
continuous respect for and strengthening of democratic practices and therefore the rule of law;

1.The Integrity Commission must be an independent constitutional structure within the ANC with the capacity to act independently from and without the influence of the ANC NEC or any official, including the President of the organization. Implementation of its recommendations of the integrity commission. The integrity commission must submit its report directly to the
NEC.

2.There must be a one member one vote for a direct election of NEC.

3.The number of deployed NEC members in government must be capped.

4.The Tripartite Alliance must be revitalized, strengthened and respected.

B. THE REVITALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY IS AN IMPERATIVE

Corruption must be rooted out from all levels of government and state owned
companies – Eskom, SAA and SARS in particular.
A judicial enquiry must be urgently set up to investigate state capture and
corruption that has served to undermine ANC and the culprits must be
apprehended and prosecuted without unnecessary delays.
Ill-gotten monies must be confiscated back to fund developmental projects.
Hope and confidence in the South African economy must be restored by
stakeholder engagement and embarking in an investment pact with business,
labour, communities and government.
Youth unemployment and job creation must be prioritized

C. OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY MUST BE DEFENDED

We must work with the Civil Society to defend the constitution and rights of all
our citizens.
The constitution of the ANC must be aligned with that of our country.
The President must be directly elected, and her/his powers be moderated in
line with the prescripts of our country’s constitution.

D. THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM NEEDS REVIEW

An Electoral Review Commission must be established for the regular reviews
of our electoral system and take into account a hybrid system of a constituency and proportional representation system;
The Independent Electoral Commission must handle our elections.
The ANC President and chairpersons at various levels must be directly
elected by one member one vote.

E. BUILDING A NON-RACIAL SOCIETY REMAINS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE

Retrogressive tendencies of ethnicity, tribalism, racism and all forms of
discrimination must be outlawed and resisted.
Education and economic equity must be ensured as they restore dignity and
respect and enhance racial harmony.
ANC as a progressive organization must promote, enrich and educate all
sectors of our society on non-racialism.

F. CIVIL SOCIETY IS AN ALLY

The ANC must view and treat Civil Society as a natural ally for the enhancement of nation building and service delivery.
Civil Society is partner in development, on policy and its implementation.
Together with Civil Society corruption and current attempts to acquire nuclear
power must be rejected and resisted.

THIS NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE FURTHERMORE

Calls on all women and men of honour and integrity within the ANC and government to stand up against all forms of corruption, expose, reject and isolate the dishonest elements that seek to undermine and destroy our organisation, government and our reputation.
Calls for an open and fair election of the new ANC national leadership at the forthcoming December 2017 elective conference that will be committed to
stamping out corruption and state capture with immediate effect.
A principled new leadership will be expected to heed a call for an urgent, all-
inclusive conference that will get a process underway of correcting the wrongs
within the ANC through an intense and fundamental organisational renewal
into a truly modern organisation that will be adequately fit for purpose and
responsive to the challenges of our times.
Calls upon President Zuma, for the sake of our future, to resign with
immediate effect as State President and as President of the ANC because he
has let the ANC, our people and country down. He has brought the ANC into
disrepute and violated our South African Constitution.

END