By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has launched its new membership smart card, which is set to be rolled out to all its members across the country.
ANC is holding its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the year at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, East of Johannesburg.
The meeting will run to next Tuesday and high on the agenda are the efforts to get the budget passed.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa said the new card forms part of the organisation’s renewal programme, and more work must be done to rebuild the party.
During a briefing on Friday, Ramaphosa said the aim is to improve member administration and create a more secure and efficient system.
“As we launch this new membership card, it is essential that we do the political and organisational work to fully realise the value in the renewal of our movement,” said Ramaphosa.
“Renewal is a process, and the ANC is becoming more and more effective, more and more of a capable organisation and more and more of a unified organisation as we move ahead.”
He said the smart card will also be used to access the party’s conference.
“Indeed as one holds this membership card with one’s picture on it, with very distinct pictures and a beautiful photograph of the founders of the ANC at the back. It makes it the most unique card in the world. I can safely say there is no card like this in the world.”
Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the overhaul was necessary to address longstanding issues such as bulk buying of membership, gatekeeping, and ghost members.
“The rollout of the new card will be implemented in phases,” Mbalula explained.
“The first phase includes today’s launch, where the President and ANC NEC members received their new membership smart cards.
“The final phase will begin 21 days after this launch, with the mass production of cards for all active members in good standing. We will infuse this politically, opening up the organisation to members.”
Meanwhile the ANC has refused to accede to the Democratic Alliance (DA) demands of having a say on the country’s economic agenda.
This comes in the wake of Finance Minister, Godongwana saying, “The DA has sent a letter to the president accepting the 0.5 % VAT increase in exchange for certain things which are outside the budget, like the Expropriation Act and so forth”.
The proposed VAT increase has sparked significant backlash from opposition parties, who argue it disproportionately affects low-income households.
The DA said that it was not a secret that they have been negotiating with the ANC over measures to remove obstacles to the creation of economic growth and jobs.
This included creating an enabling environment to move us off the high debt, low growth trajectory, and onto a path to prosperity.
We have demanded a series of growth-enhancing reforms and a plan to lower taxes over the next three years.That’s the only thing that can work to bring relief for tax, said the DA.