Pretoria - Transformation of the economy, job creation and the capacity of the state to deliver are set to come under scrutiny as the ANC begins a review and assessment of its performance in the last two years.
The discussions have begun on Monday with the party releasing its discussion documents for its National General Council (NGC) set to take place in October this year.
The NGC is a mid-term review platform for the organisation, and the documents have given indication that issues like the troubled state-owned enterprises, the low levels of job creation and low economic growth will take centre stage.
The country’s electricity crisis, ways to address and the its impact on the economy it will also come under the spotlight.
Some of the major sectors in which progress will be interrogated include education and health, legislature and governance, international relations, rural development and reform and rural development and reform.
ANC policy head Jeff Radebe told journalists on Monday morning that the branches of the ANC would be expected to deal with the issues intensively, instead of focusing on election matters.
“On the economy, that’s where we need to focus relentlessly, branches must discuss their local municipality and ask whether the resources are being put to good use, are we mending the roads, are we solving billing problems. The discussion should not be about slates.
“If these documents can bring about a paradigm shift we would be happy,” said Radebe.
About 3000 ANC delegates are expected to participate at the NGC.
While acknowledging the troubled state-owned enterprises, Lindiwe Sisulu said on Sunday that the broader context of the state-owned enterprises showed that many were performing.
“We need to define what we mean by state-owned enterprises. The ones that people are talking about now are the ones that are in your face.
“Nothing is said about the likes of Denel, which is performing well, and there are thousands others in the different spheres of government,” said Sisulu.
ANC economic transformation subcommittee head Enoch Godongwana, said the discussions and debate should also look at reviewing government spending.
“We should have a discussion about redirecting our spending in the light of the various factors affecting the economy locally and globally.
“The discussion should speak to how we investment and spend in initiative and projects that give us sufficient returns,” said Godongwana.
Pretoria News