Johannesburg - ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe says every delegate to the party’s national general council brings expertise with them – especially its branch members, who make up more than half of its 4049 delegates.
Other categories of delegates include the Leagues of the ANC and its alliance partners.
Its delegates will also include members of its national, provincial and regional committees.
Its three leagues are: the ANC Youth League, Women’s League and its Veterans League.
The party has decided to invite its Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA). “We are also honoured by the confirmation of attendance by Izithwalandwe Comrades (Ahmed) Kathrada, (Andrew) Mlangeni and Mme (Gertrude) Shope,” Mantashe said.
“Other stalwarts including members of the Integrity Committee have also been invited.”
The party also invited, as is the tradition within the ANC, its fraternal organisations, notably the Former Liberation Movements – MPLA (Angola), Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe), CCM (Tanzania), FRELIMO (Mozambique) and Swapo (Namibia) who have confirmed their attendance.
“We also expect in attendance representatives of the Brics embassies - Brazil, Russia, India and China. Cadres deployed in government and members of the business community make up the balance of delegates to the NGC,” Mantashe added.
Delegates will be transported in 67 busses, all of which have already left the various provinces across the country.
The first delegates arrived at 9 am on Thursday morning.
“We are currently busy with the registration of delegations, following the pre-registration that have been done in provinces. We are pleased with the speedy and smooth registration that has characterized the accreditation and registration process thus far,” Mantashe said.
There will be 4049 delegates at the ANC’s national general council, which begins on Friday – 2500 of whom will be ordinary branch members.
The provincial break-down of members is:
Eastern Cape: 403 delegates
Free State: 165 delegates
Gauteng: 285
KwaZulu-Natal: 513 delegates
Limpopo: 276 delegates
Mpumalanga: 315 delegates
North West: 257 delgates
Northern Cape: 125 delegates
Western Cape : 162 delegates
Labour Bureau