President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed ANC members and delegates at the 11th Limpopo elective conference on Sunday.
Image: MYANC X Account
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the party's commitment to the country's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policies amid the movement's renewal agenda. Ramaphosa gave his closing address on Sunday at the 11th ANC Limpopo elective conference, which saw Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba elected unopposed as the provincial chairperson of the ANC.
Ramathuba’s election follows a ruling by the High Court in Polokwane, which dismissed an urgent application to interdict the provincial elective conference. The conference also coincided with another legal battle, which resulted in the indefinite postponement of the party's elective conference in the Eastern Cape. This provincial conference was held in abeyance after a High Court interdict over procedural flaws and disputed branch credentials.
IOL reports that the ANC's unity slate in Limpopo emerged with all candidates nominated at the branch level elected without opposition, with Ramathuba replacing outgoing provincial chairperson Stanley Mathabatha.
During his address on Sunday, Ramaphosa emphasised that renewal remains the ANC's primary objective, as highlighted at the National General Council (NGC) last December
"Renewal is our number one priority, as declared by the NGC in December. As declared by the NGC, renewal manifests itself in many ways. This includes the way our municipalities work as well as the ways in which we, as leaders, conduct ourselves. Secondly, renewal and rejuvenation must be anchored by an effective developmental plan, where we reindustrialise our economy for mass employment creation," Ramaphosa stated.
President Cyril Ramaphosa met with new leaders of the Limpopo provincial structure ahead of his closing address on the last day of the 11th ANC provincial elective conference on Sunday.
Image: MYANC X Account
Ramaphosa added that the NGC also resolved to consider how the country's rural communities can benefit from the economy as the country reindustrialises to regain lost ground.
"We must ensure that our rural areas also become productive. That is what renewal must also manifest itself in. This should include strengthening the local government sphere to accelerate service delivery and to promote infrastructure development," he added.
On the party's progressive policies, which have been criticised by some of the ANC's Government of National Unity (GNU) partners, including the DA, Ramaphosa said despite signing the statement of intent with those partners, the ANC will not turn its back on its policies.
"Those who say B-BBEE and affirmative action must stop are just dreaming because we will not abandon the B-BBEE policies that we have embarked upon. We want our people to have opportunities to advance their lives," he added.
Touching on the current economic landscape, Ramaphosa acknowledged the adversity South Africans have faced over the past 15 years, with rising unemployment and deepening inequality contributing to the nation’s struggles.
"We must acknowledge that for the past 15 years, unemployment has gone up. Inequality has deepened, and economic growth is at a low level instead of improving. However, with all these challenges, we can now say, (with the reforms that we have undertaken), we have started to bring down the vestiges of State Capture," he said.