/ 9 June 2012

Phosa admits ANC ‘dropped the ball on nation building’

ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa
ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa

The ANC had neglected nation building and the next set of leaders needed to focus on the future, the party’s treasurer general said at the Western Cape provincial general council on Saturday.

“In the Western Cape, and in the country, we dropped the ball on nation building,” Mathews Phosa said in a speech prepared for delivery.

He said those who were elected at the Mangaung conference needed to look to the future, rather than the past.

“We neglected our interaction with minorities, and we admit that we often did not live by our motto that this country belongs to all who live in it.”

In the Western Cape the African National Congress could only displace the Democratic Alliance by being an inclusive party according to established ANC principles.

Phosa said job creation, skills levels, the development of black entrepreneurs and service delivery needed to be addressed.

At the Mangaung Conference delegates would discuss issues including the roll-out of the National Health Insurance (NHI), improving the judiciary and how state intervention in the minerals sector could “unlock” its value.

“Broadly speaking, the point of departure is that of saying: We have won a resounding victory on the political front; our job is now to ensure that we do even better in planning and structuring the economic liberation of our country,” Phosa said. — Sapa.