ANC council to take stock

• Party policies and programmes to come under microscope
• Social, economic transformation efforts up for review

The ANC’S 4th National General Council (NGC) in October leadership will discuss ways to more effectively implement the party’s programme to transform South Africa into a more prosperous and democratic society in which every citizen has equal opportunity.

Documents released by the party this week, a little more than a month before the council scheduled for October 9-12, list nine key areas that delegates will focus on as they seek to fine tune party policies and programmes.

The documents formally set the parameters for the issues that can be discussed at the NGC. They are generally the first indicator of how ANC policy, and subsequently, government policy could change over the next five years.

The documents are normally sent out to branches of the ANC ahead of the conference for perusal. They are thoroughly interrogated before delegates actually pronounce on them, thereby promoting openness and transparency.

The topics of discussion listed in the documents sent this week include the balance of forces; social transformation; economic transformation; education, health, science and technology; legislature and governance; communications and battle of ideas; international relations; peace and stability as well as rural development and land reform.

The NGC that will take place at meeting Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng, is convened in line with resolutions taken at the ANC’s 50th National Conference in Mahikeng in 1997 where it was agreed that the organisation should hold a general council meeting mid-term its five-year conference cycle.

According to the party, the NGC gathers to assess progress made in the implementation of Conference resolutions, analyse challenges encountered and lessons learnt in the implementation of the resolutions as well as identify and respond to existing and emerging developmental challenges.

The council does not change policy but it reviews policies and programmes of the party to ensure better implementation.

On the balance of forces, the ANC says it wants to find answers to questions about its own long-term evolution as an organisation, its core vision and the capacity to pursue it.

“This balance is a function, firstly, of objective conditions much beyond the ANC’s control,” read part of the documents.

“Secondly, it is also dependent on subjective factors that reflect organisational and human agency. Actions by those who seek social transformation do shift the relationship among the array of forces in society… the primary aim is to clarify the opportunities and constraints in the journey to a national democratic society,” says the party.

The ANC also wants to come up with strategies for social transformation that seek to empower people and lift themselves out of poverty while creating adequate social nets to protect the most vulnerable in society.

“Although faced with difficulties, the process of aligning policy to our goals has been managed well and the fifth administration hit the ground running,” according to the documents.

The party said in just over a year since assuming office, the reconfiguration of national and provincial government is nearly complete.

Some of these changes include the consolidation of coordination and planning capacity in the form of the cluster system and the Planning Framework and Commission, as well as the capacity and framework for managing performance across government.

The ANC 2014 manifesto priorities education; health; safety and security; the fight against corruption; decent work backed by a growing economy and rural and agricultural development.

On economic transformation, the party promises to take a more radical stance on wealth redistribution with the aim of accelerating economic upliftment for all South Africans.

It says the exploitation of the country’s resources cannot flourish alongside starvation, poverty, unemployment and inequality.

“We want economic emancipation for all and with it, we will promote the responsibility that goes with equitable share to the wealth of the nation,” the party says.

The ANC will also take time to assess the work in the areas of basic education, higher education and training; Health and Science as well as technology sectors between 2013 and 2017.

“The fundamental goal of the (ANC) is that of uniting all South Africans around its vision and programmes in order that the masses participate in the building of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society.

“The ANC relies on the strength of its branches and their ability to work among the people, mass participation of communities in programs of the ANC and those of government,” the party documents