African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on delegates who gathered in eMalahleni in Mpumalanga for the provincial conference to remain “focused” and not be destracted by the party’s internal squabbles.
He said the 13th Mpumalanga Provincial Conference that took place over the weekend must be a start to making sure that the ANC continues to grow at the branch level.
Ramaphosa said the issue of power and access to resources will have detrimental effects on the ANC if it is not addressed.
He told delegates that the ANC needs to go back to its founding principles of service to the marginalised in society.
Reflection on step aside resolution
Ramaphosa has also called on the ANC in Mpumalanga to carefully reflect on the issue of “step aside” as part of the ANC national elective conference resolutions of 2017.
The conference elected Mandla Msibi as the party’s treasurer in the province, even though he is facing a double murder charge at the High Court in Nelspruit.
He could not be at the conference over the weekend, because he had stepped aside after he was officially charged.
Ramaphosa says this will need to be addressed vigorously by the newly elected leadership and the ANC branches.
“You took the step of yes, endorsing and electing one of the comrades who is facing charges. Now, I know that you have reflected on this and you’re going to do further reflections. This matter does need your reflection as a disciplined membership of this organisation. Your reflection must be based on the decisions that have been taken by our national conference.”
Ramaphosa congratulates new leadership
Ramaphosa also congratulated the newly elected leadership of the ANC in Mpumalanga. He says this is a good trend set by the province that a conference of the ANC can be peaceful and fruitful, in the name of unity and renewal of the party.
Speedy Mashilo is the Deputy Chairperson, Vusi Chirwa takes the reigns as Secretary and Lindiwe NtshaliNtshali as his Deputy.
Ramaphosa has praised the province. “Congratulations to Mpumalanga for setting a good example for what should be a trend in the upcoming provincial conferences of the ANC across the country.”
He has called on ANC delegates conference to remain “focused” and not be destructed by the party’s internal squabbles.
Ramaphosa says the issue of power and access to resources will have detrimental effects on the ANC if it is not addressed. He added that the ANC needs to go back to its founding principles of service to the marginalised in society.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa’s closing remarks at the Mpumalanga elective conference:
