‘We’ll improve quality of life’
ANC MANIFESTO PLEADS FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS
THE ANC’s election manifesto reflects the true aspirations of our people, informed by our knowledge and insights of what their challenges are and how they would like the ANC to address them.
The ANC puts out its manifesto to the people of South Africa to seek another five-year electoral mandate to continue to build a better life for all people.
Each passing year we accordingly reflect on the history of our struggle which highlights the various challenges we have encountered in our achievement of freedom and democracy.
As the ANC, we remain committed to improving the quality of life of our people and deliver on our electoral mandate. The ANC, even though members of communities elect their preferred candidates, assumes full responsibility for their performance in every local government.
This year’s elections coincide with the 60th anniversary of the historic Women’s March that took place on August 9 1956.
This historic event reminds us that our democracy is incomplete unless women are liberated from patriarchy. Whilst the ANC has made incredible strides over the past 22 years in empowering women, these local government elections will see yet another affirmation of this historic mandate to empower women in local authorities.
As we assert in the manifesto, working together with communities, the ANC will build on the incredible achievements made in delivering basic services to the people, improve access to municipal services and reduce outsourcing in municipalities.
Furthermore, we will strive to improve public participation and accountability of councillors. The ANC will enhance the capacity of local government to deliver on its mandate, which flows from the history of the struggle against apartheid.
Very importantly, and as resolved at the last ANC national conference on the prime focus of socioeconomic transformation, we will develop and strengthen local economies, create jobs and promote job placements, especially for the youth.
We will intensify the fight against fraud and corruption in local government and in communities. We will promote education as the apex priority in communities, improve health in urban and rural communities.
The ANC will help municipalities adapt to the changing climatic conditions and build spatially integrated communities. We remain the main custodian in promoting nation-building and socially cohesive communities, as demanded by the National Development Plan. Undoubtedly, the ANC remains committed to building on a 22year legacy of transforming our country.
We are the only organisation that carries and understands the aspirations of our people as we have done for over 104 years.
The successes of the ANC in government cannot be overemphasised. We brought many changes in the delivery of water with access to piped water increasing from 61.3% in 2001 to 90% in 2014. We further increased access to basic sanitation services between 2002 and 2014, from 62.3% to 79.5%.
In health, from 2002 to 2015, we reduced the infant mortality rate from 51.2 babies per 1 000 live births to 34.4 deaths per 1 000 births. We have further improved life expectancy from 53.4 in 2009 to 62.5 years in 2015. We have provided about 3.7 million subsidised housing opportunities, thereby giving a home to about 12.5 million South Africans. These are some of the achievements of the ANC and we can still do more, as we are the only organisation that understands the struggles of our people.
The ANC is seeking another electoral mandate to continue on a programme of improving the lives of our people. We have a plan and understand the struggles of our people. We carry their aspirations forward. Vote ANC on August 3, together we can advance people’s power in every community – local government is in your hands.