Leadership in need of seasoned ANC cadres
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THE ANC’S fifth national policy conference (NPC) held recently captured the nation’s attention.
More than 4000 delegates gathered at Nasrec in Gauteng to reflect and contribute to shaping the future of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).
Kwazulu-natal constituted the biggest delegation and, because of this, had great responsibility in ensuring that unity prevailed.
Our approach was informed and shaped by the undertaking we made at our provincial general council (PGC) and articulated in the declaration adopted.
We said: “When we are facing the mighty tide of the times and the expectations of our people for a prosperous life, we should not be distracted nor complacent.”
The NPC reaffirmed the ANC as the country’s leading voice, firmly subscribing to the adage there should be no holy cows in any talk.
At the heart of discussions were issues of strategy and tactics in the current phase, organisational renewal, economic transformation, the land question and others.
The ANC has emerged stronger and prepared to make enormous contributions towards building a democratic society. It rejected the theory that the party was no longer able to inspire the masses.
The conference outcome proved the ANC resonates with the masses who continue to struggle with the threefold challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
It affirmed that the economy was still dominated by white monopoly industries dependent on and supported by big transnational companies in America and Europe.
This understanding does not mean the ANC is engaged in a struggle to replace the white monopoly capital with black monopoly capital, but it remains committed to eliminating all forms of racial domination.
Defining the economic structure without spelling out the required intervention would have been tantamount to an analysis with no consequences.
The ANC resolved to firm its approach to fighting monopolies in all industries. Thus it resolved that the government must review the Competition Act to ensure open and transparent competition.
It agreed that punitive measures by the Competition Commission left much to be desired.
Thus the government must ensure that the commission step up its approach to curbing anticompetitive tendencies.
As we approach the ANC 54th national conference, there is a need to ensure the party declares that collusion is corruption and there are decisive punitive measures, including prosecution with a jail sentence, for those involved.
A few weeks before the conference, the minister of minerals was vilified for introducing a new mining charter. It shocked many to see members speaking in tongues on a charter that had gone through cabinet.
The new charter aims to increase BEE representation from 26% to 30%. This radical shift is necessary to speed up transformation in the mining sector.
That this is a mere 4% increase is a grave crime, especially when those trading in mines do so little for our country. Of this 30%, 14% is for black economic empowerment, 8% is for workers and another 8% for the local community.
It is clear that those who do not support the new charter are challenging transformation.
The NPC not only endorsed the new mining charter but overwhelmingly called for progressional transition towards 51% black ownership in the mining industry within five years.
Scientific analysis has proven that any country that exports raw material simultaneously exports job opportunities. Many of our minerals are exported without beneficiation and this is not sustainable.
The prevailing situation in which the majority have no access to land compelled the ANC to consider a radical new approach on land restitution. This is derived from understanding that land is a key economic instrument.
The first secretary-general of the ANC, Sol Plaatje, after the proclamation of the 1913 Natives Land Act said; “Awaking on Friday morning, June 20, 1913, the South African native found himself, not actually a slave, but a pariah in the land of his birth.” This resonated in Nascrec, resulting in an overwhelming call for the amendment of the constitution to allow the expropriation of land without compensation.
We need to consolidate this demand of our toiling people whose land was dispossessed by force. The cry for quality and free education for the African child was also at the pinnacle of discussions.
All delegates agreed that only the ANC had the capacity and collective ability to deliver free and quality education for the poor.
There was unanimity on free education for all children whose combined-parent salaries were below R600000 a year.
This would assist the plight of many young people, including those who would inherit huge debts through loans for tertiary education.
Above all, there was a feeling that the movement’s leadership structures needed to be overhauled to ensure the introduction of people who were not comfortable with the status quo.
There was consensus that at the helm we still needed seasoned cadres whose experience and wisdom must be combined with new young cadres determined to bring about change.
Again Anton Lembede spoke directly to us; “We are not called to peace, comfort and enjoyment, but to hard work, struggle and sweat. We need young men and women of high moral stamina and integrity; of courage and vision. In short, we need warriors.”
The ANC must revitalise its strategic tasks and leadership. We say bravo to all delegates from across the country. Aluta continua.
Zikalala is the ANC KZN chairperson.