By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC), the party’s highest-decision making body in between conferences, spent three days at the weekend discussing strategies to end power cuts, grow the struggling economy, improve service delivery, combat crime and corruption, and enhance border security.
Presidenct Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the interventions made by the government to curb the spread of bird flu in the poultry industry.
Ramaphosa delivered his closing address at the ANC’s national executive committee meeting on Monday.
He said the government is looking at possible rebates for imports.
“The NEC noted the impact that avian flu has had to the poultry industry as well as consumers and applauded the interventions to curb the spread of the disease, fast-track the import permits to enable the importation of table eggs and fertilized eggs; evaluate the registration of vaccines for H5 and H7 strains, and explore the feasibility of import rebates.”
“This as the outbreak of two strains of avian flu is causing wide spread destruction on poultry farms in various provinces, and have already led to the forced culling of more than 5 million chickens.
Ramaphosa added that government is dealing with the current fiscal pressures through a combination of fiscal discipline, and a growing and inclusive economy.
“The NEC expressed deep concern that ordinary South Africans continue to feel the impact of high food prices and the continuing rise in the fuel price. Most recently, the Competition Commission found that local retailers have not been passing on cost reductions obtained through falling producer prices to consumers.
“The NEC urged government to engage the retail sector to work together in ensuring that our citizens and in particular the working class, are cushioned against rising prices.”
Ramaphosa also said the renewal of the party should be seen as a continuous process, not a one-day event.
“Renewal should never be seen as a one-day event, it is a continuous process. There are times when we will take five steps forward, and three back, but the commitment that we have made in ensuring that there is renewal in the ANC, is a commitment to which we have said we will not reverse from and we will always seek to move forward. We must keep at it and reposition our organisation,” said Ramaphosa.
This was a most success ANC NEC meeting which was underpinned by a great spirit of camaraderie, great exchange of views, clearly displaying a continuing sprit of renewal and unity.
The appointment of Veterans to lead the Integrity Commission and Disciplinary process is part of engendering discipline and integrity back in the organisation. The Veterans’ League remains at the forefront of the renewal of the ANC and building and strengthening our movement.”
The ANC president’s address comes just days after former president Thabo Mbeki’s criticism at a memorial service for anti-apartheid activist and former deputy minister of foreign affairs Aziz Pahad last week.