Cape Town — African National Congress (ANC) President, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the party intends to launch a foundation course to determine whether members meet the requirements to be in the party.
Speaking during the ANC’s Special NEC meeting on Sunday, Ramaphosa said the course would also address corruption and unruly behaviour within the party and he hoped the new initiative would boost the moral and ethical orientation of members as the ANC tries to strengthen its renewal process, IOL reported.
“The renewed ANC conduct in society, through their service to the people of our country and hard work carried out in government and community organisations, will continuously uphold the principles of the party,” he said.
The move comes as the ANC found that many of its branches were repurposed for individual and sectional interests and have neglected the core tasks of the national democratic revolution. The report also revealed that the practice of bulk membership registrations has been criticised.
The ANC has long faced criticism from community members for failing to deliver adequate services and not prioritising their needs. Issues such as water and electricity supply, unemployment, and poor infrastructure have become a nightmare for many communities.
As reported by Newzroom Afrika, Ramaphosa said the Special Course will start with the NEC before moving throughout the country.
“Tomorrow (Monday) the NEC continues to receive the first foundational course, which is going to be a requirement for all members of the ANC. So we are starting with the NEC tomorrow, and thereafter it will spread throughout the country, where all ANC members will be required to go through this course to qualify as a member of the ANC,” Ramaphosa said.
[WATCH] ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa: “All ANC members will attend a foundational course to determine whether they meet requirements to be party members.”#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/ctzxj6yoel
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 27, 2024
“There will be a time for disciplined discussions as well as engagement on the issues of leadership succession. Now is not that time in fact our next national conference is only in 2027 and we are currently in 2024,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa said the NEC had decided that all party members who failed to appear before the integrity commission in relation to State Capture should be referred to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).
He emphasised that the integrity commission plays a crucial role in the party’s renewal process, addressing political and ethical complaints against ANC leaders.
The third element of renewal is about instilling integrity, ethics, and organisational discipline. The integrity commission is the custodian of the values and ethics of the African National Congress (ANC),” he said.
He added that the party’s main focus was to rebuild the movement and return the organisation to its historical mission of serving South Africans and the collective quest to building a better life for all South Africans, Newzroom Afrika reported.
“The NEC therefore resolves that we will focus on our branch, Our public representative and leadership at local, provincial, regional and national level, will focus on the immediate tasks of the NDC as set out in our manifesto.”
Accordingly, we must continue the transformation of our country to create work and opportunity and to end the poverty and hunger, and ensure all South Africans are able to live in peace,” he said.
[WATCH] ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says the party’s main focus will be improving groundwork to ensure that it returns to its main mission, which is to serve the people of South Africa.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/YuLCc9scOJ
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 27, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
