55th NATIONAL CONFERENCE, PART TWO
ANC blasts ‘right wing’, promising advancement of transformation without any apology
The ANC has raised concerns about the spate of racist incidents which it believes has presented a threat to social cohesion and non-racialism in the country.
The ANC has resolved that there be harsher action taken against any persons or organisations found to be engaging in racist acts in the country and has lamented the extent to which it believes it has eroded the strength of relationships and the sense of solidarity in communities.
Speaking to the media on Thursday during a feedback session of the party’s national conference commission on strategy and tactics, National Executive Committee (NEC) member David Makhura said a racist agenda was being driven by the “right wing”.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe is now briefing the media.
He says the newly- elected party National Executive Committee will be holding a special meeting in the coming days. This will be the first time they will be gathering since their election. #ANCNationalConference pic.twitter.com/MsROOm96Cp
— Queenin Masuabi (@Queenin_M) January 5, 2023
Makhura was speaking at the Imvelo Safari Lodge, near Bloemfontein, where the ANC’s Free State structure was participating in the hybrid continuation of the party’s national conference.
“We are heading to a dangerous place which is unacceptable, as long as the ANC is in charge we need to sharpen our response.
“We cannot tolerate racism, we did not discuss specifically instruments like what legislation will be used. We said at the level of the state we need to sharpen our instruments. The South African government needs to be following through on our Constitution. I know that dealing with racism, there may be specific proposals from other commissions on what needs to be done,” according to Makhura.
Makhura noted a number of racist incidents which have recently surfaced on social media and explained that party members felt strongly about the government looking further into curbing them.
The country was rocked by an incident in December, where black teens were barred by white men from entering the pool area at Maselspoort resort in the Free State. When the teens decided to ignore this and proceeded to swim, they were then attacked by a number of white men who were present.
In the video which made the rounds on social media, Kobus Klaassen, the man seen to be allegedly attacking the boys, was charged with attempted murder, common assault and crimen injuria.
Makhura said the ANC is also working on boosting fundamental transformation in South Africa and added that those who want the current status quo to remain the same are in favour of white domination.
He explained that those who are against the transformation agenda have utilised democratic institutions to try to sustain “racial privilege in the economy and broader society”.
According to the draft strategy and tactics draft document, which Daily Maverick has seen, the ANC states the following about transformation:
“The ANC wants to develop a more assertive, emboldened strategic posture to defend our constitutional democracy and advance the transformation agenda without any apology, across all sectors and pillars of transformation. Where necessary, policies and programmes that have not worked should be reviewed.”
Future of Mabuza hangs in balance as ANC ponders Mashatile for SA Deputy President
The ANC is concluding its national conference in the next two days with the party expected to wrap up its discussions on key party policy. The continuation comes just days before the party’s 111th anniversary celebrations.
Whether Eastern Cape provincial executive member Andile Lungisa will be able to assume his position as an NEC member, is yet to be determined. He was allowed to run for the NEC despite having been suspended by the party.
Lungisa faced the ANC’s Provincial Disciplinary Committee after being charged with violating Rule 25.17.2. of the party’s constitution. The charges relate to his criminal record for smashing a glass jug on an opposition party member’s head six years ago.
The party did not manage to conclude its conference as scheduled between 16 and 20 December. The conference was marred by delays which saw its full complement of delegates only being registered on by the second day of the gathering. DM
Update: Conference proceedings adjourned at 3am.
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Anti-racism is good, but must be applied across the board.
Can’t run a bath, nevermind a country, but can use race to distract from its own criminality of cadre deployment and BEE to enrich themselves. We all agree racism has no place in the country, now please stop destroying it!
Smells like a red herring to me? Yes, racism should not be tolerated anywhere, any time but I believe our existing laws and NGO’s like the SAHRC do a good job in prosecuting these cases. So why, when our country is spiraling ever more rapidly down do these clowns focus on racism? What about energy supplies? Poverty? Unemployment? Crime? Corruption etc. etc. are they making a big song and dance about racism? Who are they trying to fool?
How convenient that a “racist” incident has deflected any meaningful discussion on the mess and ruin the ANC has caused. The ANC is at core racist in the anti-white sense. Therefore, justifying the BBBEE farrago. Transformation? Business was created by Europeans as was the RSA. The African is the one who must transform from a Pastoralist mindset to a Technology one. Just watch the uproar when a whitey is appointed to say the Post Office or Eskom, Q.E.D.
Racism is a problem that should not be tolerated, and yet daily women and children “disappear” or are murdered and raped – surely this is a much larger and more serious problem? As for Andile Lungisa – the man is a violent thug and should be in jail and not anywhere near the NEC – imagine not being able to engage in debate with opposition and instead smashing a glass jug over the person’s head? Seems to me the ANC has their priorities all wrong.
Very sad
I support taking severe action against racism. The problem is the complete lack of action against just about every other crime and the selective outrage against white-on-black crime. This week 5 alleged burglars were caught, beaten and set alight (burned to death) in Delft; just a media report here and there. Imagine the sh!# storm if it was a bunch of white farmers who did that. Race relations are very healthy in some spheres and in other the resentment and tension is growing. Hanging this only around the neck of the (white) right wing while ignoring the hate speech, racial discrimination and baiting by the likes of the EFF, BLF etc is adding fuel to the fire.
One can never justify racism but the ANC government must realize that it needs to earn the respect of the entire population. Is it possible that some of these racist rants and acts stem from the frustration and anger felt towards the government? If we as white people are seemingly all tarred with the same brush then it’s possible that the same sentiments are reciprocated by a few of the less enlightened white people towards the black population. Neither is acceptable but it would help the citizens to be more tolerant of each other if we lived in a properly functioning country.
For a political party that ought to know that the issue of racism was not going to go away after the 27th April 1994, it is irresponsible to merely be issuing only statements of condemnation. What is expected of people who go around making all sorts of claims, including being leader of society is to reflect on its very leadership in terms of social cohesion and nation building. These horrible incidents that are not acceptable but are a reflection and a measure of how far has the nation building project has gone. Whilst support has to be given to the victims, a reflection of the extent of nation building has to be made. The ANC has to account on what social cohesion and nation building programs it has and what nature and character do they take rather than join the “we condemn” parties like the SACP. This question relates to the what programs at schools, universities and societal level do we have to develop social cohesion and nation building rather than pour fuel to the fire. It is well and good to say we must decisively deal with the racists. If it is the only solution we have as society we must all hang our heads in shame.
Our democratic constitution allows South Africans to rectify at elections.
All opposition parties may share one aspect of this process – the need to record the vote-counting process with a video camera. A simple process to provide evidence that the practical implementation of our constitution is acceptable.
2024 is not far away.
Desperate to regain voters using the racism card they think might safe them. Again i pray God bless our beautiful country. Bless those that build and maintain peace….restore this beautiful country and bind those that rely on evil deeds to maintain control and cause division.