Day two of the African National Congress’ 51st conference will see delegates knuckling down to work, after an opening day of report-backs by the party’s outgoing national leaders.
Among the issues to be discussed will be an update on the ANC’s Strategy and Tactics document which was adopted at the party’s Mafikeng conference five years ago.
This was necessary in the light of new developments and experiences gained since the 1997 conference, officials said. Among these were issues of international terrorism and heightened tensions in the Middle East, as well as the birth of the African Union.
The more than 4 000 delegates will break into 25 commissions to discuss strategy and tactics, and issues arising from the political and organisational reports delivered on Monday.
Earlier this week, ANC representative Smuts Ngonyama said delegates were likely to discuss the IFP’s call for an early election in KwaZulu-Natal during this session. The ANC has yet to officially pronounce on the issue.
Most of Tuesday’s proceedings will be closed to the media, although President Thabo Mbeki is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11am.
On Monday night, Mbeki was re-elected unopposed as party president. Also returned unopposed were Deputy President Jacob Zuma as the ANC’s deputy president, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota as national chairman, Kgalema Motlanthe as secretary-general, and Mendi Msimang as treasurer, while Housing Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele exchanged her Cabinet position for that of ANC deputy secretary-general. – Sapa