The parliamentary caucus of the ruling African National Congress has backed the movement’s national executive committee (NEC) in declaring that it was not over-centralised and that the country was not systematically shifting towards a dictatorial leadership style.
In a statement released by Mpho Lekgoro, the caucus said it ”fully supported the response” of the NEC. The accusations of centralisation had been made by the ANC’s alliance partners, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
Defending President Thabo Mbeki, who is the ruling-party president, it said its ”first-hand experience” on the practical role and function of the Presidency and the president was that of ”consistent provision of effective leadership” to the country and government ”in general”.
”The president has always respected the space for Parliament to execute its constitutional mandate.
”Recently, the president boldly and decisively sent the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Bill back to Parliament as it contained provisions that contravened the scope of the constitutional mandate of the institution.”
The Bill changed the appointment procedure of the authority’s board.
”It is in this vein that we find the accusations against the Presidency unfounded and baseless,” the caucus said.
Noting ”leadership challenges” — with the election of Mbeki’s replacement for president of the ANC coming up in 2007 — the party said the caucus had noted the media reports relating to the challenges of leadership in the ANC.
”We support the NEC’s decision that ”The ANC national conference, which is due to be held in 2007, will elect the ANC’s national executive committee, including its national officials. The procedure by which the election will take place is outlined in the ANC constitution, and is well known to the structures and membership of the ANC. The process of nominations will begin in ANC branches a few months before the national conference.”
Parliamentary powers not eroded
The caucus also noted the current public discourse regarding the alleged erosion of the powers of Parliament — and has declared that this is not the case.
The ANC caucus said ”the insinuation” that Parliament’s powers were continuously eroded by the executive was ”unsubstantiated” and could not be backed by fact.
Parliament was ”fully functional” and adequately ”capacitated” to carry out its mandates, ”which is evident in its record of conducting its functions”, the movement said.
It was responding to concern expressed by the SACP that Parliament’s role was being eroded.
”However, it should be noted that Parliament is operating in the context of a transformative environment and therefore will go through several organisational changes that would require that it be capacitated to deliver on its mandate.
”These insinuations are reflective of ignorance on the activities and scope of function of Parliament and therefore caucus rejects them with contempt,” the movement said. — I-Net Bridge