/ 29 July 2007

ANC reviews outcomes of policy conference

The national executive committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) on Saturday reviewed the deliberations and outcomes of the party’s recent policy conference, and debate focused on the policy challenges towards 2012.

”The NEC agreed that the outcomes of the policy conference, reflecting the discussions on the various sectoral issues, recommendations and draft resolutions, should be distributed to structures of the ANC and leagues by August 1,” said spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama.

Branches of the ANC will then be able to begin discussions on these issues in preparation for regional and provincial general councils.

”These will produce draft resolutions that will feed into the 52nd national conference. The NEC received and considered a report on preparations for the December national conference,” he said.

These include logistical arrangements at the University of Limpopo.

”Amid media reports about the capacity of the province to host the event, the NEC confirmed its earlier decision to hold the conference in Limpopo and expressed its confidence in the ability of the province to successfully host an event of this nature.”

Officials were mandated to take those measures necessary to address any outstanding logistical challenges.

He said that guidelines and a timeframe for an audit of ANC membership were discussed and this would determine the allocation of branch delegates to the conference.

”This audit will establish the ANC’s membership and precise number of branches in good standing as at the cut-off date of June 30 2007. This audit will be undertaken, with the involvement of all levels of the organisation, during the month of August,” he said.

Ngonyama said the formal process of NEC nominations will only begin in October, within the guidelines to be set out by the electoral commission. — Sapa