THE ANC Sarah Baartman regional executive committee (REC) held its regional lekgotla at the Green Fountain Resort last weekend, for the purpose of intensifying the work of the ANC in the region leading up to the 2019 national elections and 2021 local government elections.
Among the items discussed were “radical economic transformation” and building the organisation.
The lekgotla was attended by the members of the REC, provincial executive committee members, chairs and secretaries of sub-regions, the ANC’s deployed mayors, speakers, chief whips and members of parliament and parliamentary legislature deployed in the region and delegations from the ANC Youth League and Women’s League.
“The lekgotla focused on enhancing the government’s work, building the organisation and local economic development,” regional secretary Scara Njadayi said in a statement.
The Lekgotla received a political overview from regional chairperson Mlungisi Mvoko and a political address was made by provincial secretary Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane. There was also a presentation by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti.
“They reflected on the role of the ANC and emphasis in building the unity of the organisation and pleaded to everyone’s commitment in pursuing the goals and the objectives of the National Democratic Revolution that of building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa,” Njadayi said.
“They acknowledged that the ANC is confronted by complex political challenges, which warrants every leader and member of the ANC to emulate the role played by Oliver Reginald Tambo, who spent most of his time in the struggle navigating on those challenges.”
The lekgotla resolved to:
- Capacitate the work of councillors, to try to improve their contributions in solving people’s problems and enhance their energy in expediting service delivery;
- Expedite the relocation of the district municipality from Port Elizabeth to Sundays River Valley;
- Encourage municipalities to do proper situational analysis and see to it their organisational structure is able to respond to challenges;
- Intensify the coordinating role of the district municipality.
The lekgotla reiterated a call for “radical economic transformation” and put more focus on “enhancing township economy” by encouraging municipalities to consider procuring everything locally, revitalise roads and rehabilitate ageing infrastructure.
The lekgotla welcomed the development of the Agri-park in Addo and further resolved to lobby the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and Department of Water and Sanitation to consider the building of a water catchment dam in the Tsitsikamma area.
It also resolved to support the construction of the nuclear power plant in the Kouga area.
On the topic of building the organisation, the lekgotla resolved on the review and reestablishment of regional political education and training for ANC councillors, members and leaders in various aspects such the political economy, the history of the ANC, strategy and tactics of the ANC and the constitution of the ANC.
“The lekgotla was characterised by robust, political debates. This aspect was an attestation and a witness of the ideological and political growth and quality of leadership within the region,” Njadayi said.
