Simon Nare
After being humiliated at the polls in the May 29 elections, the ANC will now turn its attention in building up its support from the local government level.
This was one of the issues being discussed by the party at its Lekgotla meeting that is currently underway at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg outside Johannesburg.
Acting spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi told journalists at a media briefing that President Cyril Ramaphosa had tabled the matter in his report and it was accepted.
“The president yesterday said part of what the ANC needs to do is to focus very seriously on local government and its spheres and work to stabilise at that level and make a reference in one municipality,” Godlimpi said.
Godlimpi added that the meeting has identified that this initiative will start in Johannesburg. He said the party will not be deterred by the current load reduction and will not fear approaching members of the community.
“So we have to find a way to bring both the national and provincial government to intervene at local government to stabilise at the leadership level and also to stabilise the administration performance of the levels of the state.
“So, what the lekgotla then does is to discuss specifically what are the key interventions that are required to stabilise the local government beyond the leadership issue. There are revenue issues that the local government is faced with,” he said.
Godlimpi echoed Ramaphosa’s defence of the “Government of National Unity”, saying that even the alliance partners who have lambasted the formation will soon talk in one voice.
He said the challenge facing the party was also explaining this to the rank and file.
“When the alliance spoke here at plenary they were quite militant about their views and some of these things and that is what we want. We want people to sit in one room and say we disagree with you on one two three.
“This is our reading of the situation. We think this is the implication of the tactical move that you are making. We think the best cause of action is there. But it doesn’t mean when an alliance member says this is their view and the best way for the ANC to demonstrate that we are listening is to abandon the ANC thinking and just take what the alliance partner is saying.
“We have got to try to synthesize these views and find the most viable strategic way forward that we can all fall behind. I can promise you, I can promise you this as time goes on the alliance will be singing in one tune about the GNU,” said Godlimpi.
Ramaphosa, while addressing the Lekgotla on Sunday said his party did not arrive at forming a Government of National Unity (GNU) easily, but it was a decision taken fully aware of the risks and opportunities inherent in the option.
“We firmly believe this was the best way to form a government that is stable, effective and able to advance the interests of the South African people as a whole,” Ramaphosa said.
“The day we succumb to the noise and go to a government arrangement with MKP and EFF will be the day the ANC loses its identity”.
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