Johnathan Paoli
THE January 8 Statement is a declaration of the ANC’s programme of action for the year ahead and is always issued to the masses on the anniversary of the founding of South Africa’s oldest political party.
This year at the ANC’s 112 anniversary celebration in Mbombela Stadium, Mpumalanga President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to the throngs that had gathered to listen, touched on elements that were affecting the living conditions of South Africans, mainly the poor.
Ramaphosa promised that the ANC will focus on accelerating the reconstruction of the economy, delivering quality basic services and infrastructure, party renewal, fighting crime and corruption, rejuvenating the nation, and contributing towards a better Africa and world in 2024. He also reminded South Africa of the achievements brought by 30 years of ANC rule.
Below Inside Politics highlights 10 key elements of the January 8 Statement:
- Grants:
Ramaphosa said in 1999, 2.5 million people had access to social relief, compared with the most recent stats figures showing that as of 2023, 18 million South Africans were receiving social grants.
He mentioned the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant which started during the COVID-19 pandemic, and said the poverty alleviation grant, set the groundwork for future Basic Income Grant.
- Literacy:
Ramaphosa highlighted that the literacy rate went up for people aged between 15 to 24 to 85% compared to 1996 where only 65% of the population could read and write.
- Employment:
In 1994, only 8 million were employed, and now over 16 million people have jobs and advocated for experience to fall away as criteria to employ young people saying the youth shouldn’t struggle to get jobs.
Since 1994 the ANC introduced the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the minimum wage and legislation that entrenches collective bargaining and the rights of workers and trade unions.
- Gender:
The President added that he believes in the only party with a 50/50 woman representation policy. Adding that the party is committed to women’s empowerment and that women in administration in the ANC are not treated as second-class citizens.
“Over the last 30 years, the ANC-led government has made tremendous strides in empowering women. It is largely due to the ANC’s decision that women must be equally represented in all public institutions that currently more than 45% of the seats in parliament are held by women. During apartheid, less than 3% of MPs were women”.
- Basic Human Rights
The ANC, since it was voted into parliament as the majority party, has guaranteed fundamental freedoms and human rights for all South Africans, Ramaphosa said.
- Expansion of Basic Services and Infrastructure
Basic services such as water and electricity, housing, roads, health, water and energy have been expanded to reach millions of people who were previously excluded by apartheid from access to basic amenities because of their skin colour.
- Economic Transformation.
Launching the first phase of economic transformation by introducing laws and policies on worker rights, employment equity and broad-based Black empowerment, investment in infrastructure, public employment programmes and achieving higher levels of economic growth.
- Grants for students
Through the Nsfas, the ANC has made it possible for millions of South African students to access tertiary institutions such as universities and Tvet Colleges to acquire knowledge and skills to be able to compete in the local, regional and international world markets
- Chapter 9 Institutions
The establishment of democratic state institutions in accordance with the Constitution, such as the Auditor-General, the Commission for Gender Equality, the Pan South African Languages Board, the Independent Electoral Commission, the Public Protector and others to protect the country’s democracy and freedoms.
- Foreign Policy:
The statement recognised the serious risks and multiple crises faced by the world, including rising inequality and poverty, economic instability and trade wars, increasing geo-political tensions, the unfolding genocide against the Palestinian people, the devastating effects of climate change, and the risks posed by technological developments such as Artificial Intelligence.
INSIDE POLITICS
