FOR

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

25 May 2021

STATEMENT OF THE ANC NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE HELD ON 24 MAY 2021

The National Working Committee, the structure responsible for implementing decisions and instructions of the ANC
NEC and for conducting current work of the ANC, sat in a regular session on Monday, 24 May 2021.

This was the first meeting of the NWC following the Special NEC held from 8-10 May 2021, and therefore focused
on current work of the ANC and critical issues arising from the NEC.

The Covid 19 Pandemic

1. The NWC noted with concern rising infections, and warnings that some provinces are already
approaching a third wave of the pandemic. As a nation, we must remain vigilant to guide against
another deadly wave of the pandemic, as we enter the winter season. We all therefor need to take
extra care, abide by the non-medical interventions such as wearing masks, social distancing,
avoiding gatherings and hand hygiene.

2. The ANC welcomes the start of the Phase 2 vaccine roll-out on 17 May 2021. It noted that every
day, every week, more and more vaccine sites are being added by both public and private health
sectors.

3. The ANC appreciated the enthusiasm with which older citizens have responded to the call to
register for the vaccine, and went out at the appropriate time to get their Covid vaccines. We have
seen the road being opened by many of our national leaders and icons, Nobel Laurette Archbishop
Desmond Tutu, 1956 women’s march leader Mam Sophie De Bruyn, Zionist Church and national
faith leaders Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane and Bishop Joseph Lekganyane, ANC Deputy
Secretary General Jessie Duarte, former Independent Electoral Commission Chair Dr Brigalia
Bam, former trade unionist Pat Horn, setting an example.

4. The NWC welcomes the extra efforts that are being put in place to reach out to elderly in rural
areas, to ensure that in this phase, no senior citizen is left behind.

Celebrating Africa Day

5. The NWC met on the eve of the 58th anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of Africa
Unity, now the African Union, on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa. As we observe this day, along with
our fellow citizens of this great continent, we are proud that the solidarity which informed the
formation of the OAU, is still being expressed as we battle the global Covid 19 pandemic.

6. The NWC also recalled the important milestone of African unity and development reached this
year, with the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area since 1 January 2021.
As government, citizens, entrepreneurs, innovators, traders, professionals, tourists and business
persons, we must use this critical instrument of integration to advance industrialization,
intra-African trade and investment, the building of infrastructure that helps integration, silencing the
guns and people to people links across the continent.

7. Africa Day this year is celebrated under the theme, Arts, Culture and Heritage. Levers for the
Africa We Want. In recognition of the critical role that the creative and heritage sectors play in our
sense of identity, in the economy and our history.
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Solidarity with Palestine

8. The continuous assault by apartheid Israel, and the escalation of the violence inflicted on the
Palestinian people, was condemned by the National Working Committee. The ANC, its Alliance
partners and progressive civil society will continue to participate in solidarity actions in support of
the Palestinian people, including pickets at the Israeli embassy and consulates and support for the
growing call to boycott Israel products.

9. The ANC reaffirmed its support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian
people, and for negotiations towards a viable two-state solution. The state of Israel must
immediately cease its assault on the Palestinian people, stop and reverse the seizure of
Palestinian land, and its apartheid policies that is an attack on the human rights and dignity of
Palestinians.

10. We recall and reaffirm the words of Cde Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s word that “our freedom is
incomplete, without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

By-Elections and Local Government Elections

11. The NWC discussed the outcomes of theby-elections held on 19 May 2021. The NWC expressed
its appreciation to the voters in the 27 wards that the ANC retained and 3 new wards that were
gained.

12. The NWC also received a detailed report on the road map to select ANC Candidates as councilors
for the local government elections on 27 October 2021. ANC branches across the country have
started convening Branch General Meetings to nominate appropriate candidates, using Through
the Eye of the Needle as a guide, followed by community meetings to ensure that we select the
best candidates for the various wards that we will be contesting. The process of ANC Branch
general meetings and the community meetings is expected to conclude no later that 15 June 2021.

13. The NWC welcomes the extraordinary preparations by the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC) to ensure these elections are conducted safely, including the investigation by Justice
Dikgang Moseneke into the holding of local elections in conditions of the Covid 19 pandemic.

14. The ANC elections machinery is starting preparations for the campaign, including urgent
interventions to address the crisis of municipalities in North West province and other areas, the
process of candidate selection overseen the ANC Electoral Committee chaired by former President
Kgalema Motlanthe, and preparing for the IEC voter registration weekend scheduled for 18-19 July
2021.

15. Special attention will be paid to young people and first-time voters, especially those who do not yet
have identity documents. Young people remain the age cohort with the lowest levels of voter
registration, and yet they constitute a large and critical part of the electorate. Our message to
young people remains: Take charge of Your Future. Get your ID, Register and Vote.

16. The NWC remains seized with the process of electoral reforms currently underway in Parliament,
as ordered by the Constitutional Court. It will continue to engage on this critical matter of national
importance.

BBGMs and Conferences

17. The NWC expressed satisfaction with close to 3000 Branch Biennial General Meetings, to elect
new Branch Executive Committees (BEC), which are being held on the basis of the new online
ANC Membership system. The successfully elected BECs are urged to urgently convene their
BGMs in order to start their candidate selection for local ANC councilors, including community
meetings.

18. The thousands of BECs will also be inducted shortly, to ensure they understand their roles in the
various communities where they lead ANC branches, taking up issues of communities and
addressing community problems, as an agent for change.
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19. The ANC welcomes the defeat of the court action to declare the Francis Baard regional conference
invalid and to prevent the holding of the Northern Cape provincial conference. We are confident
about the robustness of our internal systems, and will continue to defend the movement in
attempts to undermine its constitutional processes, using the courts.

20. The NWC also received the reports on the interventions in the Nkomazi subregion in Mpumalanga,
where violence occurred during two of their BBGMs, and where these processes have been
halted, until a political solution is found.

Preparations for 60th Anniversary of Umkhonto we Sizwe

21. The NWC appointed the ANC Archives Committee, chaired by cde Baleka Mbete, to set up a team
to prepare for the 60th anniversary of the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe on 16 December 2021.
As instructed by the NEC, the Presidency and SGO are stepping up efforts to secure a unity
conference for all Umkhonto we Sizwe veterans ahead of these celebrations.

Appointment of the Free State Interim Provincial Committee (IPC)

22. Following the Ramakatsa vs ANC judgement, the special NEC on 8-10 May 2021 resolved that
priority must be given to pursuing a political solution that will build a united and vibrant ANC in the
Free State, and endorsed the efforts led by Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe. The NEC further
instructed the NWC, to avoid a political vacuum in the province, to establish an inclusive interim
structure to take the province to an elective conference in due course.

23. The NWC acting on this mandate therefore established the Free State ANC Interim
Provincial Committee (IPC) as follows:

1. Mxolisi Dukwana (Convenor) 2. Sefora Ntombela (Deputy Convener) 3. Paseka Nompondo

(Coordinator) 4. Polediso Motsoeneng (Deputy Coordinator) 5. Saki Mokoena (Provincial
Head of Elections) 6.Moretlo Nonoise 7. Marqueen Letsoha8. Makhosini Msibi 9. Martha
Selaledi 10. Ike Moroe 11. Kelebogile Wesi 12. Kgotso Sesele 13. Kenalemang Mohale 14. Toto
Makume 15. Malebasa Mosoue 16. Gregory Nthatisi17. Kenalemang Phukuntshi 18. Seiso
Mohai 19. Elsabe Rockman20. Mongi Ntwanambi21. Mamiki Qabathe 22. Mathabo Leeto 23.
William Bulwana 24. Tshidi Koloi 25. Makalo Mohale 26. Lindiwe Makhalema 27. Tefetso Phitsane
28. Sam Mashinini 29. Maggy Sotyu 30. Madala Ntombela 31. Lilo Mashiya 32. Thabo Meko 33.
Montsheng Tsiu 34. Thandoxolo Khalipa 35. Thembeni Ncangisa36. Nthabeleng Portia
Mofokeng 37. Dibolelo Mahlatsi 38. Mzwandile Thakudi 39. Castro Thabane 40. Oupa Khoabane

On Integrity and Disciplinary Matters

24. The National Working Committee:

• Supported the application to oppose the urgent application by cde Secretary General Ace
Magashule to set aside his temporary suspension in terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC Constitution.

• Observed that ANC Provinces and the ANC Caucus in Parliament continue to implement or give
effect to the decision of the NEC that charged with corruption or other serious crimes must step
aside voluntarily or be suspended in terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC Constitution, and those
accused of corruption but not charged to present themselves to the respective Integrity
Commissions, in line with resolutions of the 54th National Conference.
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• Condemned the unbecoming, divisive and defiant behavior of cdes Secretary General Magashule,
Tony Yengeni and Carl Niehaus during the recent court appearance of former President Jacob
Zuma. The NWC instructed the National Presenter to look into these breaches of discipline and to
investigate charges in line with the ANC Constitution and Code of Conduct.

• Noted the reports of the National Disciplinary Committee setting aside the decisions of the
Gauteng Provincial Disciplinary Committee in the cases of cdes Khusela Diko and Dr Bandile
Masuku.

• The Integrity Appeals committee consisting of Cdes Vusi Khanyile (Chairperson), Mavivi Manzini,
Josiah Jele, Dipuo Peters, and Johnny de Lange, as mandated by the NEC.

Other Matters

25. The NWC furthermore:

• Note that an Alliance Political Council will be convened on 4 and 5 of June 2021, followed by an
Alliance summit on the economy and political balance of forces.

• Welcomed the ongoing engagement with Contralesa by Officials, on matters of national

importance and to ensure cohesion and unity of progressive forces and the people.

• Engaged on the process to give effect to accelerated Land Reform and Redistribution, the current
process to amend Section 25 of the Constitution and to adopt the Expropriation Bill, with further
urgent engagements planned on the matter.

• Noted that the NEC decision to remove ANC Youth League NYTT members that are 35 years and
above has been implemented. The NYTT has since elected its working committee and has
adopted a roadmap for the convening of the ANCYL National Congress.

• Noted that the ANC administration will provide the NWC with a comprehensive proposal regarding
the nature, form and timing of the NGC, taking into account the limitations imposed by the
COVID-19 pandemic, the local government elections campaign, and other considerations.

Obituaries

The NWC remembered the lives that continue to be lost due to Covid 19, extend its sincerest condolences to the
bereaved families, friends and colleagues and wish them strength during these difficult times.

The NWC also dipped its revolutionary banner in rememberance of ANC veterans and leaders Professor
Stanislaus (Stan) Skumbuzo Mzilankatha Sangweni, Ambassador Ismael Coovadia, Dr Konji Sebati,
veteranThembi Nobadula, Joe Jongile, Nicolaas Pedro, Kwaito music legend Mojalefa “Mjokes” Matsane and Dr
Sponono Francinah Baloyi.

Issued by the African National Congress Deputy Secretary General Comrade Jessie Duarte on behalf of the
National Working Committee

Enquiries

Pule Mabe

National Spokesperson
0716234975
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