Cape Town - The future of the ANC’s policies - and thus South Africa’s - now lie in the hands of 16 “commissions” which will thrash out decisions at Mangaung.
The ANC’s 4 500 delegates will hive off into the commissions on Monday, once each has chosen the commissions with which they wish to collaborate.
The exact set of resolutions each commission will consider will only be released on Monday, but will be informed by four crucial documents.
First, the ANC president’s “political report” by Jacob Zuma. Second, the secretary-general’s “organisational report” by Gwede Mantashe. Third, the party’s “financial report” by the treasurer, Mathews Phosa. Fourth, the results of the party’s policy conference held earlier this year.
The following will also be taken into account: the National Development Plan, the Infrastructure Rollout plan, the Census Report of 2011 and the Annual National Assessment report on the state of education. Commissions will be divided into two main categories.
The first will discuss “organisational renewal and strategy and tactics”, to be discussed by all 16 commissions on the first day of commissions which is the second of the conference.
The second round on Tuesday will discuss “policy issues”.
Plenary sessions then follow on the fourth day of the conference to receive reports and recommendations from the commissions.
Draft resolutions, policies and programmes of action for the next five years will be presented, leading to the reading of the “declaration of conference” and the closing address by the newly elected ANC president.
The nominations and announcements of election results of both the national officials and national executive committee members will be conducted by the Electoral Commission together with an elections agency - both held in open sessions.
The new president’s election is expected to be announced on Monday along with the rest of the “top six”.
They are the deputy president, national chairman, secretary-general, deputy secretary-general and treasurer-general.
They will be closely followed by about 850 media members who have been accredited.
Cape Argus