ANC vows to appoint capable, committed leaders in municipalities

African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa says the party is committed to ensuring that every person placed in a crucial leadership position in an ANC-run municipality, has the necessary experience, capabilities and commitment to fulfil their responsibility.

Ramaphosa was speaking at the party’s manifesto launch in the City of Tshwane’s Church Square on Monday night.

Ramaphosa says the ANC has undertaken a process of renewal which includes strengthening the leadership of municipalities.

“We will make sure that municipal staff must be made up of people who are competent. We want competent municipal managers. We want competent financial officer. We want competent engineers and we want all the people who [are] appointed to be competent. We don’t want fly-by-nights,” explains ANC President.

ANC outlines its priorities for the next five years: 

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has admitted that the party made mistakes and pledged that the party will do better.

He says the party has not always chosen the best people to run government institutions, has not always been responsive to people’s needs, and has not done enough to hold its officials accountable.

“This evening we pledge to you people of South Africa that we will do better, much better than we have done in the past. This is a pledge and this is what we dedicate ourselves to you on. We have not always done the best that we were meant to do and we have not only done the best that we were capable of doing. Yes, we stand here and admit that we have made mistakes,” says  Ramaphosa.