By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa who was elected for another five-year term says the conference has united the governing party, “much to the surprise of those who don’t wish us well”.
“I can testify to the fact that this conference is going to continue solidifying our unity and cohesion as the ANC,” he said.
“The branches have spoken, and chosen the leadership they wanted.” The ANC has spoken. The strong democratic tradition that underpins the founding of our movement has been victorious once more,” he said to applause from delegates.
Ramaphosa said the ANC had “made mistakes and missteps and we have paid for them in many, many ways, but even at the brink, we’ve been able to pull ourselves back where many people thought we will stumble and fall forever”.
He also said there has been some progress since the unity and renewal project was launched at the 2017 conference. The unity project “hasn’t been an easy journey,” and that the party was able to pick itself up to continue on its path to renewal.
There have been moments at this conference that have tested our unity and cohesion. But thanks to the political consciousness and for the most part the discipline amongst yourselves as delegates, whatever differences amongst us did not distract us from the critical work that the people of this country expect and require of us.
“There have been attempts to divide us, to provoke us and to divert us from the tasks that we must undertake in advancing our national democratic revolution.
As the conference got into full swing ahead of voting for the re-structured top 7 leaders, negotiations and horsetrading saw some provinces change branch mandates on preferred leaders.
Ramaphosa said the party’s tradition of branch, regional and provincial gatherings before the national conference has been “victorious.”
However he criticised the inability of the ANC to elect more women for top leadership positions.
For the first time in its over 100-year history, the ANC has three women holding top posts, including Nomvula Mokonyane and Marupene Ramokgopa, who form part of the secretary-general’s office.
The two are the first and second deputy secretary-generals respectively.
That was not enough, said the president.
Ramaphosa also noted that corruption hurt the integrity of the ANC.
“Corruption in the ANC is a dire threat to the organisation and the future of the democratic revolution.”
Ramaphosa suggested that the government should consider establishing an independent anti-corruption agency to address issues of corruption.