The Citizen (Gauteng)

SHOOTING OFF The ANC’s big sell ...

MANIFESTO: PARTY ‘FOR THE POOR’ MAKES JOB CREATION PRIORITY

- Eric Naki – ericn@citizen.co.za

‘We are open and willing to listen and engage on key issues, says election head Mbalula.

The ANC plans to continue selling itself on the ticket of being a party of the poor, a champion of women and youth and a leader of socio-economic transforma­tion, with job creation a priority.

The party has vowed to renew and strengthen state institutio­ns and propel the economy towards a higher growth trajectory.

It will lean on the stimulus and recovery plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Framework Agreement reached at the recent Jobs Summit.

This emerged yesterday as ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula unveiled a countrywid­e consultati­on process into the drafting of its Ramaphosa-led “People’s Manifesto” that will focus on societal challenges.

Mbalula said the document would enliven the party’s 54th national conference resolution­s. An objective was to broaden and deepen participat­ion in the manifesto process by what he termed “strategic sectors of society”.

He said they would “demonstrat­e that the ANC was open and willing to listen and engage on key issues affecting the country and develop relevant political and socio-economic policies to address them”.

According to Mbalula, the manifesto will be officially launched at the ANC’s 107th anniversar­y rally on January 8.

It will aim to develop common understand­ing and identify possible solutions to current challenges, contradict­ions and constraint­s South Africans faced.

“The 54th National Conference urged us to renew our commitment to radical socio-economic transforma­tion so we deepen the process of change. Our conference also entrusted us with the tasks of championin­g the issues concerning women and youth,” he said.

They will prioritise women’s empowermen­t because women constitute­d more than half of the population, while young people, as the majority of the population, must become the “drivers of our transforma­tion agenda”.

Through its manifesto consultati­on process, which began in June, various stakeholde­rs voiced confidence in the party, but the youth insisted the ANC must be decisive in dealing with the negatives that had characteri­sed it recently. “Young people have also spoken loudly and want to see the ANC infusing dynamism to its character,” Mbalula said

Ramaphosa insisted the manifesto must be based on the needs of the people and be gleaned from their views at grassroots level.

He said the “People’s Manifesto” must give effect to the view that South Africans were active agents of their own liberation.

The ANC plan came at a time when the government faced criticism for failing to deliver services to the people and over rampant corruption in public institutio­ns.

“This journey has not been without its challenges,” Mbalula said “We would be the first to admit that the ANC found itself mired by sins of incumbency, distance from its social base, at times perceived as arrogant, and not always responsive to the challenges confrontin­g our people.”

This journey has not been without its challenges

 ?? Picture: AFP ?? A giant inflatable tank bearing the head of US President Donald Trump is displayed outside an exhibition by anonymous artist Saint Hoax at the Dome City Centre known as ‘The Egg’ in downtown Beirut.
Picture: AFP A giant inflatable tank bearing the head of US President Donald Trump is displayed outside an exhibition by anonymous artist Saint Hoax at the Dome City Centre known as ‘The Egg’ in downtown Beirut.

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