African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC will not deviate from its mission to advance the interests of the majority of South Africans, even as it forms part of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Ramaphosa was speaking at the ANC NEC Lekgotla being held in Kempton Park, Johannesburg this weekend.
This is to plan for the upcoming GNU Cabinet Lekgotla, which will feed into the President’s State of the Nation Address.
Ramaphosa urged those who have expressed concerns that the ANC’s agenda will be diluted by its participation in the GNU, to judge the party by its actions.
This follows his signing of the Expropriation Bill, legislation aimed at facilitating access to land by the state for public purpose.
The move has elicited much opposition and threats of court action from a number of political parties within the GNU such as the DA.
“Even in the government of national unity we have a clear obligation and task to implement policies, decisions and measures that seek to advance the National Democratic Revolution, and more importantly to advance the interests of the people through the various decisions that we have taken. We will continue to take actions, be they related to health be they related to the issue of land.”
Ramaphosa also warned the ANC that it is at risk of perishing, saying the party needs to regain the trust of citizens.
“It has become increasingly clear that the ANC has lost the trust of our people, of which the loss was clearly manifested through our weakened electoral outcomes. We need to take urgent and focused action to regain the trust that we have lost.
Failing which means we will perish. There are however, signs that we are regaining lost ground in a number of places in our country but much work still needs to be done.”
ANC NEC Lekgotla | “ANC must foster a sense of civic responsibility”
