ANC NEC to discuss ‘measures to rid the movement of factionalism’

30 September 2016 - 10:17 By TMG Digital

From Friday‚ the African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) will have “open‚ frank and robust engagements and resolute action on the challenges and opportunities the current epoch presents to our movement”. The three-day meeting will get feedback on efforts made to gauge “perceptions of the ANC being arrogant and distant from its social base”.Earlier this week‚ party spokesperson Zizi Kodwa discouraged members from making “preemptive‚ opportunistic and divisive public commentary on the expected deliberations”.On the agenda is “a report-back on the post-election analysis and engagement that has been undertaken by structures of the organisation to date‚ in preparation for broader consultation with communities and society at large”‚ Kodwa added.When it met in August‚ the NEC said it “unanimously agreed to take collective responsibility for the poor performance of the ANC during the elections and resolved to take immediate and bold actions to address the weaknesses and shortcomings that led to the decline of our electoral support”.This would‚ the party said at the time‚ “require us to deal with perceptions of the ANC being arrogant‚ self-serving‚ soft on corruption and increasingly distant from its social base”.On the upcoming meeting‚ Kodwa said the NEC will address its challenges “cognizant of the resolution of the last NEC meeting which tasked the national officials and the NWC (national working committee) to take urgent measures to rid the movement of factionalism across the board - including within the NEC”.It was for this reason‚ he said: “The ANC therefore strongly discourages any of its members or structures against preemptive‚ opportunistic and divisive public commentary on the expected deliberations of the NEC.”Differences over the controversial appointment by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as group executive of corporate affairs‚ when his previous appoint as COO was ruled invalid‚ could also be discussed.The ANC’s chief whip in Parliament‚ Jackson Mthembu‚ called for an inquiry into "shenanigans" at the broadcaster this week‚ and denied claims that Motsoeneng‚ widely seen as being close to President Jacob Zuma‚ was a party deployee.“I can give you the records of the deployment commission and you will not find Hlaudi there. There are many people that could be deployed who could do a wonderful job‚ but I can't say the same about him‚" he said.The ANC Youth League had‚ however‚ earlier said it had “confidence in…the former SABC COO”‚ and called on Motsoeneng to reapply “when the post is advertised”.– TMG Digital..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.