ANC@111: JANUARY 8TH STATEMENT
Ramaphosa proclaims plans are afoot to snuff out rolling blackouts and corruption
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa was stern and forthright as he delivered the party’s keynote address at the 111th party anniversary where he set out what the party aims to achieve ahead of the crucial 2024 national elections.
The newly elected ANC top brass has prioritised six focus areas — including energy security and improving the quality of its membership — as it plans to claw its way back from electoral losses, to much hoped-for victories.
The National Executive Committee (NEC), elected in 2022, has set out their commitment which includes deepening the renewal of the ANC, improving energy security to end rolling blackouts and mobilising social partners around economic reconstruction and recovery in order to increase job creation.
The ANC aims to regain lost electoral support which has seen a steady decline at the polls, reaching an unprecedented low of below 50% in the 2021 municipal elections — leading to the party losing governance to key metros including all three metros in SA’s commercial hub of Gauteng.
President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daily Maverick)
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who beat rival former health minister Zweli Mkhize for the presidency, told the 20,000-capacity Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein at the party’s birthday celebrations on Sunday that the party should improve delivery of basic services, maintain infrastructure, strengthen the fight against crime and corruption and take action to build a better Africa and world.
[WATCH] The crowd cheers for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa. He is about to deliver the keynote address the #ANC111 anniversary celebrations held at the Dr Petrus Molemela stadium. pic.twitter.com/dhWpHF9T5o
— Queenin Masuabi (@Queenin_M) January 8, 2023
Ramaphosa expressed his disappointment about the state of the host metro of Mangaung which has been placed under national cabinet administration amid service delivery failures.
“The 55th national conference affirmed the historic mission of the ANC to emancipate South Africans from all forms of oppression and build a better life for all. We adopted a roadmap 2032 to define the ANC of the future as it prepares for its 120th anniversary in 2032,” Ramaphosa said.
“Central to the ANC roadmap, is the understanding that the ANC will only succeed in realising its strategic objectives when it confronts its subjective weaknesses and successfully transforms itself into a renewed, responsive, modernised, well-governed, well-resourced, ethical, caring and effective political formation.”
On energy, Ramaphosa reassured attendees that additional power would be generated in the short term by leveraging surplus capacity from existing generators and procuring additional power on an emergency basis.
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“The ANC will lead a campaign against illegal connections to eliminate load reduction, which is placing an added burden on communities, and a call on all South Africans to join energy-saving measures to alleviate stress on the national grid.
“We will continue implementing the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 which includes the procurement of over 18,000 MW of new generation capacity.
“This includes ensuring investment resources mobilised through the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan are used to speedily upgrade Eskom’s transition network to facilitate entry of new generation capacity,” he said.
[IN PICTURES] ANC NEC members Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma and Lindiwe Sisulu. #ANC111 pic.twitter.com/eHNjL1gFZn
— Queenin Masuabi (@Queenin_M) January 8, 2023
Ramaphosa emphasised the need for local government to be rebuilt and mentioned that many municipalities under ANC governance had collapsed.
“The 55th National Conference resolved to strengthen the political and administrative institutions to deliver on their mandate… The District Development Model will be fully implemented across the country.
“The provision of basic services such as water and sanitation, municipal waste collection, and the repair and maintenance of roads will receive priority. The planning, design and delivery of these basic services will take into account the rapidly changing climate situation,” he said.
Ramaphosa deemed corruption an “enemy of the people”, that must be combated and defeated. He said the party had reaffirmed its decision to implement the step-aside guidelines but it has to be done fairly.
ANC supporters at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State for the annual January 8th statement address by President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daily Maverick)
“Any member implicated or involved in corrupt activity must be subjected to the ANC’s rules and the criminal justice system. There can be no exceptions. To address issues of corruption within its ranks and to enhance the integrity of the organisation, the 55th National Conference has reaffirmed the step-aside guidelines, strengthening of the Integrity Commission and the ANC disciplinary structures and processes.
“The ANC calls for speedy implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on State Capture. Those implicated… in acts of corruption and fraud must be investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted… in addition to the ANC’s own commitment to implement those recommendations of the Commission that are relevant to the organisation.”
The country goes to the polls in 2024 with Ramaphosa expected to be the face of the ANC campaign. Internal polling has shown he is rated higher than the party and will better the ANC’s chances of growing its support base. DM
CR has one term left, cannot be re-elected : no popularity contest anymore. There are enough cadres in the over 900 thousand runt per year benefit package category that they are not going to oppose him if doing so terminates the runts. He should clean house NOW, starting with cleaning out the justice, law and order, and secret service nest. He cannot fix the ANC but he can fix the public service and SOE. Like Eminem said : one shot one opportunity.
Cyril has a jellyfish spine. His words will not be followed by actions. Watch what he does with the likes of Kodwa, Mantashe, Dlodlo, Mahlobo, Gigaba, Cele and Mkhize when it comes to cabinet appointments – all of them looters!
More of the same BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! Does anyone even believe this anymore? It is the same every year. TALK but no definitive and measurable steps, which leads to MORE OF THE SAME, i.e. NOTHING GETS DONE!
Cyril Ramaphosa is an unmitigated liar and very dishonest. He has a person around him called Zizi Kodwa who has been fingered by Zondo Commission for embezzlement of funds intended for ANC from EOH. Zondo recommended that he fires this fellow as a Deputy Minister and he has refused to do so point blankly. His main supporter in the Eastern Cape has hardly accounted for the Mandela funeral funds and how he got a Bently from salary of an MEC in 2019. He has a Florence Radzilani who supports him and a corrupt core in Vhembe that is implicated in the VBS scandal. A fellow who has kudos from a notorious political plumber called Lesiba Tefu , who goes by the name of Gwede Mantashe has been fingered in the Bosasa scandal and keeps him in Cabinet. He lies about commitment on corruption but Zondo raises serious questions around PRASA that the ANC has been a major beneficiary of its looting during the tenure of Gwede Mantashe as an SG. He has a David Mahlobo who is fingered for stealing money from the state security agency as Deputy Minister. He has very questionable people who are his supporters like Zoleka Capa who used public money to get cattle for herself and Zuma. Who s Ramaphosa thinking he is fooling or are hos fools? We are not interested in the non – existent and even undefined renewal of the ANC but having those who stole taxpayers money in orange overalls starting with his blue eyed boy. Zizi Kodwa. His lies do not wash except to ANC journalists and analysts.
Waada waada waada 😴
Should the President still be quoted? He has made all this promises many times over without ever delivering. Reading about him and his “intentions” is a waste of time.