ANC kicks off second leg of 55th conference

The ANC is holding a two-day hybrid gathering that has been decentralised to select venues in all nine provinces after it failed to conclude its business in December. 

Ramaphosa and the party’s top officials are stationed at the national hub in Mangaung, in the Free State, ahead of the January 8 statement and 111th birthday celebrations in the same province. 

He said the gathering should be one that reinstalls the public’s trust in the movement after the party noted and discussed its declining support. 

“This conference, comrades, needs to send a clear signal to voters in our country that the ANC is taking all the necessary steps to deal with the challenges that they confront; specifically, unemployment, poverty, inequality, the rising cost of living, the crime that prevails and the instability, poor service delivery, as well as load shedding that continues to negatively affect the lives of our people,” he said. 

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Ramaphosa, who was returns to the top position after beating Zweli Mkhize at the Nasrec gathering, says while they were not able to conclude proceedings during the five-day gathering, which was marred by logistical delays, delegates still managed to make crucial commitments.

“We can count those five days in December as among the most important in the recent history of the movement. During the first part of the 55th conference, delegates demonstrated their unwavering commitment to renew and rebuild the organisation, the alliance, and the broader democratic movement. 

"Delegates also resolved to eradicate all forms of factionalism and disunity and other negative tendencies within our org. Delegates to the 55th conf took a firm stance against corruption within our own ranks, within the state, and across society as well.”

Presentations and deliberations on the commission reports will take place behind closed doors with delegates expected to work through the night, according to the newly elected secretary general, Fikile Mbalula. 

“We envisage that this conference declaration will be presented in the early hours of the morning and the president will close the conference in the early hours of the morning. So, we are not sleeping. we are going to work until the early hours of the morning until we finish this conference,” he said.  

In the absence of a head of policy who would usually chair the session, David Mahlobo is expected to chair the presentation of the first seven commission reports.