Cyril calls for end to conflict
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was yesterday warmly welcomed in the Western Cape ANC provincial general council in Stellenbosch, asking party members to stop infighting and work to ensure the party regained the confidence of all South Africans.
Ramaphosa, who is trying to win over undecided provinces like the Western Cape as he faces a tough battle against his opponent, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to succeed Jacob Zuma as ANC president, called for unity among members and an end to the politics of money within the party.
He said the ANC has to regain its status as a leader of society and the best way to do that was to end infighting and factionalism among members. There has to be stability in the ruling party in the run-up to its national elective conference in December, he said.
Ramaphosa urged the ANC stalwarts and struggle veterans to assist in revitalising the movement in light of its challenges of divisions and infighting. He acknowledged the presence of party stalwarts and former arts and culture minister Pallo Jordan. Others who attended were former tourism minister Derek Hanekom, former ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha, Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehreinrich and ANC subcommittee on the legislature and governance chairperson and communications minister Ayanda Dlodlo.
Ramaphosa said all ANC members must unite to revitalise the ANC. The upcoming party national policy conference must be an opportunity.
The ANC policies existed for all South Africans, not only for ANC members. “Whatever we do wrong as the ANC we do it for South Africa, not just the ANC.”
The policy conference, to be held in Johannesburg from June 30, should give the movement the right space to rejuvenate. Delegates should be free to raise any issues they wanted without fear in order to build the ANC.
Ramaphosa said the ANC challenge was due to lack of resources and the fact that wrong people were deployed to implement its policies.
He called for revitalisation of the economy through increased investment and productivity. This has to be coupled with the harnessing of youth energies, the changing of the economy structures so as to benefit all and the acceleration of socioeconomic transformation.