Ruling party achieves million-member target

THE ANC has surpassed its target of more than 1 million members by nearly 30 000.

President Jacob Zuma announced yesterday that the ruling party now had 1 027 389 members who were in good standing.

“It is with great humility that we can announce that the ANC has fulfilled the task we were given at the 1942 national conference of our movement,” Zuma said during yesterday’s centenary rally at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

“The figures are much higher if we include members who are not in good standing. These figures are audited.”

Leading the membership stakes is Zuma’s home province, Kwazulu-natal, with 244 900. This is followed by the Eastern Cape with 225 597, Gauteng 121 223, Limpopo 114 385, Mpumalanga 98 892, Free State 76 334, North West 63 319, Western Cape 43 397 and Northern Cape 42 342.

Zuma also announced the party’s annual awards.

The Sondelani branch from Mpumalanga’s Bohlabela region won the Sol Plaatje Award for the best-performing ANC branch. The Charlotte Maxeke Award for the best-performing ANC Women’s League branch went to the Sipho Mgijima branch in Kimberley.

The Anton Lembede Award for the best-performing ANC Youth League branch was won by the Madiba branch in the Waterberg region of Limpopo.

ANC Hibiscus Coast councillors in KZN won the ZK Matthews Award for the best performance by councillors.