ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC does not want “lazy people” or individuals who prioritise personal interests over the organisation’s work, as he praised progress made by the party’s provincial leadership in KwaZulu-Natal.
Speaking at a party rally in eThekwini on Sunday, Mbalula said the ANC in the province was “on track” under its current leadership structure and credited the Provincial Task Team (PTT) for strengthening organisational work.
He said the leadership, including conveners Mike Mabuyakhulu and James Nxumalo, had demonstrated commitment and discipline in executing the party’s programme.
“We are happy with the direction the province is taking. We know that is a mammoth task, and Mike Mabuyakhulu, as the convener, and James Nxumalo and the collective have shown us in the few months that they’ve been inaugurated that they are equal to the task,” Mbalula said.
He added that the party was encouraged by what he described as stability in its structures, saying “the centre is holding” as preparations continued ahead of election campaigning.
“Leadership, we don’t say that they are they will change things but when we see the centre holding and things being done and structures being directed on the task at hand that is really encouraging. We are pleased by the work they are doing and we are here to support them and there will be many of us you will see on the ground,” he said.
Mbalula said the party had not yet officially begun campaigning for elections, but was focused on strengthening its organisational foundations and preparing for key political programmes.
“We have not started the campaign yet. We are pleased with the work we are doing in laying the foundation. We are selecting public representatives. We are preparing for our manifesto launches. So the work has been done on the ground,” he said.
Mbalula also praised the work of volunteers and party structures across the province, saying mobilisation efforts were ongoing in eThekwini and other regions.
Mbalula also warned against self-interest within the organisation, saying the ANC required disciplined volunteers who were committed to serving communities rather than themselves.
“The ANC does not want lazy people. It does not want people who work for themselves. Who prioritise their personal interests. The ANC wants volunteers who are ready to work for the people,” he said.
He also praised the work of the provincial task team, saying it was delivering results and strengthening organisational structures.
“We are seeing the work of the new PTT, and we are seeing the fruits of that work, and we support the PTT. Comrades are busy with the work of the organisation, and that is admirable,” he said.
Mbalula said women remained central to the ANC’s campaign work and should be fairly represented in upcoming local government elections.
“Women are the bedrock of the organisation and must be represented fairly in the upcoming local government elections,” he said.
The majority of volunteers in the ANC are women. When I go to the ground to campaign, doing door-to-door, the people I find at the forefront of the campaign are women,” he said.
He added that women must be respected and protected, and condemned gender-based violence, saying perpetrators must face the law.
“We must respect women and not take advantage of them. We must not abuse our women.
”Instead, we must protect them. Men who abuse women are not men and must be dealt with by the law,” Mbalula said.
IOL Politics
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now
