Bring on change: Duarte

THE ANC was "not afraid" to push organisational change, its newly elected deputy secretary-general, Jessie Duarte, said yesterday.

"The ANC, like every organisation, moves with the times" and all organisations need to adapt to a "modern, hi-tech society", she said.

"We are not afraid to trim our organisation to suit the need."

Duarte was elected unopposed on Tuesday after her predecessor, Thandi Modise, declined to stand.

She will assist secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, elected for a second term to the position, in his role as the chief administrator of the ANC.

In his report to the Mangaung conference, Mantashe noted the debate over a massive increase in membership numbers as opposed to a focus on membership quality, but said that quality and quantity were not mutually exclusive.

His report warned of problems in ensuring that national executive committee members were able to operate effectively when deployed to provinces.

Duarte said there would probably be a greater focus on understanding how branches operate in order to gain clarity on the state of the party, the enforcement of discipline and ensuring that ANC policies were understood and effected at all levels.

This would require the "unpacking" of the policy implications and meaning of the "national democratic revolution" concept for members, Duarte said. - BDlive