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WEAKNESSES IDENTIFIED: Gauteng ANC provincial secretary David Makhura and party campaigns head Fikile Mbalula. PHOTO: MABUTI KALI

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THE ANC is not prepared to abandon its mass-based character but seeks to reposition itself as a modern ruling political party.

Yesterday the ANC released its organisational renewal document, which seeks to deal with the party's weaknesses. The document looks at various problems that have affected it since it came to power in 1994.

The document identifies factionalism as one of the many problems that have weakened the party.

"We have not done enough to stamp out factionalism in the organisation. It runs against the unity of the organisation," ANC Gauteng provincial secretary David Makhura said.

He said if the party degenerated into narrow internal fights just to win elections, that would prevent it from transforming the country.

"The ANC has to be an effective governing party and has to deploy the best cadres to government. We are not about to retreat from the cadre policy but we have to deploy the best cadres."

Head of organising and campaigns Fikile Mbalula added that ANC has to reposition itself to ensure that it existed even if it were to lose power.

Currently, Mbalula said, if the ANC should lose power, only the office of secretary-general Gwede Mantashe would remain operational. That is why it is import to renew and strengthen the ANC, Mbalula said.

The document, which is to be discussed at the ANC policy conference in June, also blames its top leaders of being party to tendencies that lead to factionalism, especially going towards the elective conference.

The document says the values of the ANC have been compromised because new tendencies have emerged to fight for positions. This includes:

- Bribing members push particular factional positions;

- Disgruntled ANC members disrupting party meetings;

- Approach to leadership contests at conference is based on two lobbying lists and outcome reflecting slates;

- Abuse of ANC symbols and methods of struggles that do not unite members;

- ANC leaders get paralysed and do not deal with ill-discipline because it fears being affected.

The document further says the new tendencies' "shadow culture" co-exists alongside the ANC's own organisational culture.

"Furthermore, both old and new members and leadership at all levels are involved, increasingly leaving no voice in our ranks able to provide guidance," the document says.

Makhura said the ANC cannot be in a permanent disciplinary mode, therefore it was important to educate members politically.

"If we do not educate them about discipline, inform them that they are in the ANC to uphold these values, then it means we have not done enough to educate," Makhura said.

The document proposes that new members should go through an intense political education for six months before being given their membership cards.

Makhura acknowledged that the identified problems were not new but added that the ANC wanted to come up with ways to immediately deal with them.

The resolutions from the policy conference will be taken to the elective conference in December for adoption.

Comments

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Tue Jun 18 08:52:10 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 11, 2012

RobinH

It's too bloody late. The crooks are already in positions of power and have milked the coffers almost dry. What a pathetic "dans macabre" from this embarrassment of a party.
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Apr 11, 2012

MGEEZ

RobinH
It's too bloody late. The crooks are already in positions of power and have milked the coffers almost dry. What a pathetic "dans macabre" from this embarrassment of a party.
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Good Morning Robin; it's never too late to do the right thing? The question is whether or not they can restore the trust they have lost?
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Apr 11, 2012

Vhamsanda

I don't know what is it that the party does not understand about its weakeness. Look UP !!
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Apr 11, 2012

Secretary

Start with Zuma. Let him produce metric certificate and the rest of his allies. Most of them will not understand the document due to illiteracy and greediness. There is nothing like ill-discipline in ANC, because those who talk about ill-discipline are too ill to discipline. We cannot afford to nurse the ego of either Juju or Zuma in the name of the ANC we served so hard under ill-disciplined apartheid regime.
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Apr 11, 2012

RobinH

Mgeez. That's my point. The damage is too extreme and long-standing.... has become all-pervasive.

Vhamsanda: It's not even a question of not understanding. I think they simply refuse to see their flaws as flaws.

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Apr 11, 2012

TheDictator

At least they acknowledge the fact that they have problems,they are no longer trying to sweep dirt under the carpet anymore,thats something worth applauding.
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Apr 11, 2012

ngwanamaganagobotswa

Mbalula is not discipline cadre of the movement, for him to be a Head of organising and campaigns is the big mistakes that the movement will one regret. O tletje bo bjana le lenyatjo, one should no ANC is bigger than individual. He did preffared and empose Malema to the Youth League, Malema o diretjeng baswa today? O ba rutile go hloka hlompho, look at Sindiso Maqaka. He was with Thandi Modise ealier, he was talking as if o kua bareng, forgeting gore platform e a lego go yona ke ya mokgatlo. I wish ANC e mo repremande go hloka maitshwaro...
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Apr 11, 2012

leshwabane

TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT !

BIG UP MBALULA AND MAKHURA
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Apr 11, 2012

MGEEZ

RobinH
Mgeez. That's my point. The damage is too extreme and long-standing.... has become all-pervasive.
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True that!!!

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Apr 11, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

ANC leaders get paralysed and do not deal with ill-discipline because it fears being affected.
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Now we acknowledge the probems, the solutions to some of the issues are going to be challenged at the policy conference but they must make sure that the implementation of the new policies are supported by all. Factionalism must be dealt with at local brach levels and new members must be orientated no matter what the cynics say.... it is not too late!!!


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