Sanco: ANC succession battle not our fight

The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) will engage communities on service delivery but won’t engage in the ruling party’s succession debate.

The latter will‚ according to statements issued on Monday‚ be up to “structures of the ANC (African National Congress)” who “will at the right time and in the appropriate conference decide on who should lead the organisation”.

This was among the resolutions adopted at a meeting of Sanco’s national executive committee held over the weekend in Durban.

 “Preoccupation with matters of succession will only serve to sow divisions and undermine the unity of the alliance‚” president Richard Mdakane said‚ adding that Sanco “will work with and respect whoever is democratically elected to lead the ANC”.

Another resolution taken was “the massive campaign dubbed ‘Operation Khuluma Mhlali/Communities Speak-out’ to be launched in February”.

It will‚ general secretary Skhumbuzo Mpanza said‚ “take the form of engagements and marches in all wards across the country to draw attention to service delivery challenges facing our communities”.

It will see the relaunch of street committees which‚ Mpanza said‚ “had played a critical historical role in mobilising committees against apartheid”.

“These organs of people’s power should now be at the forefront of a people-centered service delivery for a people-centred development.”.

More pressing for Sanco‚ however‚ are the “devastating drought situation and land restitution”‚ and an urgent meeting with Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti “is planned for urgent intervention”.

“There is a need for poor households and farmers impoverished by the drought to access much-needed assistance in the form of feed and water‚” Mpanza said.

“Relief efforts should not benefit undeserving beneficiaries.”