Johnathan Paoli
THE Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, in his closing remarks at the ANC Gauteng’s PEC lekgotla said the party was prepared to defend the province.
The organisation’s provincial executive committee (PEC) held its lekgotla at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Monday and Tuesday, to outline the party’s programme of action for the rest of the year and finalise its election strategy.
The province is a traditional ANC stronghold since the democratic dispensation, however, it has increasingly lost support, with the party narrowly keeping its majority with a 50.19% victory in the 2019 elections.
Despite this declining downward trajectory, Lesufi said that the party has remained confident in maintaining its majority.
“Any other political party can claim what they want to claim but it is the ANC that has the capabilities, skills, and the talent… on issues presented to our people,” Lesufi said.
In addition, the PEC said it would re-evaluate its relationship with coalition partners at the local government level, following various municipalities within the province deteriorating since the advent of coalition governments.
“We collectively declare that Gauteng remains in the hands of the ANC, to popularise the work of the ANC and ensure that the 30 years democratic anniversary is communicated across all structures in our province,” Lesufi said.
Lesufi said that the party remained concerned over the dire state of municipalities within the province in light of the increasing financial situations and the failure to effectively deliver reports to the Auditor-General, specifically mentioning the municipalities of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
He placed the blame for the city of Ekurhuleni’s financial statements on its coalition partner, namely the EFF and said the ruling party was prepared to utilise its own resources in alleviating the poor water quality in Tshwane’s Hammanskraal, following the cholera outbreak, in addition to calling on the national government to intervene in the water crisis in the area.
“We will use whatever mechanisms and systems that we have at our disposal to ensure that we place this evidence, this information in the hands of the powers that be, so that decisions must be taken on how quick we can improve Tshwane,” says Lesufi.
INSIDE POLITICS