Johannesburg - The National General Council is a mid-term conference where the members of the ruling party review the resolutions made at the national conference. A mid-term conference is held every 5 years.
Some main points that came out of the conference:
1. President Jacob Zuma will not be standing for a third term as ANC president. This means at the end of his current tenure a new president will have to be elected.
2. The NGC noted the processes underway by the African Union to review Africa's participation in the International Criminal Court. This comes after the South African government came under fire for not handing over Sudan President Omar al-Bashir while he was in the country.
3. The ANC will root out corruption, factionalism, buying of members and gate keeping. These issues have received a lot of media attention and tarnished the image of the ANC. A properly resourced Integrity Commission will deal with the problems.
4. ANC b ranches are important. Members need to be part of political work and communities need to be mobilised for change to happen.
5. The ANC has committed to intensify efforts for the liberation and empowerment of women. The ANC Women's League said it was the right time for women to be acknowledged and recognised. The league also said the country would be proud to have a female president.
6. Economic freedom-accelerate efforts to mitigate job losses in vulnerable sectors and create new opportunities in potentially job creating areas. The ANC wants to unite the country around the National Development Plan to get rid of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
7.Land ownership is an important part of economic freedom. There is an ongoing review of land ownership- legalities, financing and use.
8. Violent crimes remain high. Government must move with speed on an integrated response through the criminal justice system.
9. There is an urgent need for media transformation, accountability and diversity including the parliamentary enquiry in the feasibility of a Media Appeals Tribunal in line with the Constitution.
10. The ANC will take measures to ensure better quality education is more accessible to all.
IOL Mojo