The African National Congress (ANC) has vowed to make the drafting of its 2019 election manifesto an inclusive process. It held its manifesto consultative meeting with its deployees in government comprising of ministers, their deputies, premiers and mayors among others.
Last week President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the party’s election workshop urging South Africans to work with government to create the society they want.
The country’s sixth national election is probably going to be the most contested for the ANC. There are fears that the governing party is losing pubic confidence.
The ANC garnered almost 66% in the 2009 elections with 264 seats in the National Assembly. However, in the 2014 elections it managed to scoop 62 % of the votes with 249 seats.
Another worrying factor is the time the party spends in courts than in fulfilling its promise of a better life for all. Although it has won two provincial court battles, it still faces other court challenges from disgruntled members in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
Last week the ANC welcomed two High Court judgments in its favour relating to the provincial elective conferences in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
However, speaking on the side-lines of their Election Manifesto Consultative meeting ahead of the 2019 elections, ANC Head of Policy Jeff Radebe says these court challenges are a cause for concern.
He has urged party members to use their National Dispute Resolution Committee to solve their internal differences rather than going to the courts.
Radebe says they want to focus on preparing for elections insisting that they want their election manifesto to be the product of all South Africans.
Meanwhile, Radebe also said Justice Minister Michael Masutha is recovering well in hospital. He collapsed at the funeral of Limpopo Agriculture MEC Joyce Mashamba at Malamulele in Limpopo on Saturday. Radebe says doctors say Masutha will pull through.
Sunday’s ANC Manifesto Consultative meeting at Luthuli House was part of the on-going engagements as the party prepares for the 2019 national elections.
