ANC: ‘We want to do better’
“The local government elections take place amid some of the most serious challenges we have faced since our first democratic elections in 1994.”
This acknowledgement was made by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the launch of the ANC’s manifesto for the November 1 municipal elections on Monday.
The president stressed that the ANC has made some mistakes but wants to improve.
Ramaphosa said the ANC chooses unity, hard work, development and shared prosperity over conflict, destruction, and inequality. “Over the last 20 months, the Covid-19 pandemic has cost many lives and many livelihoods. It has worsened poverty and inequality and caused great hardship. Government has worked together with communities and other social partners to save lives, protect livelihoods, and lead the process of recovery. To support the most vulnerable people, the ANC introduced an unprecedented package of measures, including social relief of distress grants for the unemployed, wage support for workers and various forms of relief for businesses. We are striving to build a better economy with more.”
President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa said that the ruling party is working hard to fix these problems. “As the ANC, we admit that progress has not been sufficient. Many municipalities have not delivered as they should have. There is corruption, waste and under-spending. We are getting rid of corrupt and self-serving councillors. We have introduced the ‘step aside’ rule for those in the ANC who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes.
“In several communities, water is lost through leaks due to poor maintenance. Electricity supply is not stable. Refuse is not collected regularly in some communities. And in a few areas, raw sewage flows in the streets. Public space management does not sufficiently recognise the workers in the informal economy who work in public spaces, such as informal traders and taxi drivers. Solid waste management has not properly integrated waste pickers as part of the recycling economy value chain.
“Let us work together to put municipalities on a better footing and develop better communities. Let us rebuild and renew an effective local government that puts people first. Together, we can build a sustainable, green and resilient future where we use our natural resources wisely to build the wealth of our nation,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa urged citizens to choose the best leaders to improve cities, towns and communities. “We have introduced new measures and oversight so that the best candidates from communities can be selected. Communities have participated in an independent and open process, which has been overseen by respected stalwarts of our movement.”
He said the ANC was mindful of past mistakes. “In the last elections, in 2019, we promised that we would spare no effort to renew the ANC, to end state capture, crime and corruption, create jobs and work to meet the needs of our people. Even in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have made substantial progress in rebuilding the ANC as a capable representative of the people, where resources are mobilised to support the vulnerable during a time of great hardship. Now is the time to make these changes at a local level. Let us, together in partnership, continue to work together to improve conditions and provide opportunities in our communities,” said the president.