Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)

ANC top brass debate progress

-

THE ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) lekgotla will try to “demystify” some of the stories about progress in the country, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said yesterday.

“We will try to demystify anecdotal things,” he told reporters at the St George Hotel and Conference Centre, near Pretoria.

“Like with education, there is a lot of work that has been done. It is not just about the (text) book saga.”

He said the lekgotla would focus on figures and statistics to assess progress made by the government near the end of its term.

Members would also be divided into commission­s today to focus on specific issues.

“We will see what can be done, and what can go into the (election) manifesto.”

He said the ANC’s election committee would report to the lekgotla.

The lekgotla would not focus on problems, such as the removal of Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle, Mantashe said.

“This is a lekgotla, not a normal NEC meeting.”

On July 2, DA councillor Annette Combrink was voted in as Tlokwe’s new mayor, unseating Maphetle for the second time since November.

In November, ANC factions in the municipali­ty passed a motion of no confidence in Maphetle.

He was replaced by Combrink – the first DA mayor in the North West. However, Maphetle was returned as mayor in February.

Earlier, NEC members mingled on the lawns outside the hall at the centre during a break.

Ministers and alliance partners hugged and joked, while others merely stood in the winter sun.

After the break, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu summoned them inside, saying “the leadership is calling”.

The lekgotla is scheduled to end today. – Sapa

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa