/ 13 December 2012

Polokwane resolution #4: One million-member party

The ANC has strived to become the party with a membership of one million.
The ANC has strived to become the party with a membership of one million.

How much progress has the ANC made on their last set of goals before they look to setting new resolutions at the Mangaung conference? Look out for our series of reports on how the party's wishes have been achieved under president Jacob Zuma's leadership.

Other resolutions:
Resolution #1: Political school
Resolution #2: Women's ministry
Resolution #3: Willing buyer, willing seller

Resolution: To take steps to practically implement the target set by the 1942 conference of one million members by the time of the centenary celebrations.

Progress: The ANC exceeded its target of one million members by reaching the 1.2-million mark, according to audited figures presented at the party’s centenary celebrations in January. The ANC conference of 1942 had mandated the party to reach a million members by the time it reached 100 years. The largest growth has been in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma’s home province, which overtook the Eastern Cape to take the number-one spot with 331 820 members.

KwaZulu-Natal’s membership grew by almost 88 000 members between January and September this year. The membership of the ANC’s second biggest province, the Eastern Cape, is currently standing at 187 585.

This achievement augurs well for Zuma and his quest for the second term because this 70-year-old resolution was implemented successfully under his leadership.

Though questions have been raised about the declining quality of members the party is attracting, concern about people who join the ANC for material gain instead of a genuine need to serve South Africans, as well as the party being dominated by Zuma's regional grouping from KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC enjoys the status of being the largest politcal party born out of a liberation movement in Africa.