The ANC has kick-started its campaign to claw itself back from successive electoral losses, promising to use the next nine months before the general election to avert the collapse of state-owned entities, intervene in failing municipalities and reduce rolling blackouts.
Other areas of focus for the party include unblocking delays in rolling out public infrastructure, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified as the linchpin of SA’s economic recovery, and the passing of the contentious National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) to reform healthcare and achieve universal coverage.
The focus areas are contained in a 70-page review of the ANC’s 2019 manifesto released on Sunday. The ANC also promises to “withdraw proposals that weaken labour laws in the Nedlac talks” without elaborating on the specific labour laws.
Discontent over issues such as high unemployment, the energy crisis, high cost of living and lack of basic service delivery have cost the ANC electoral support.
In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC received 46% of the vote, forcing it to form coalitions with opposition parties. Fears are that this trend could continue in the next general election.
The ANC has set its sights on winning an outright majority in the 2024 general election despite polls showing that its support may fall below 50%.
The party found that it achieved only 46% of the 102 commitments made to transform the SA economy in its 2019 elections manifesto.
Speaking at the launch of its 2019 manifesto review Sunday, Ramaphosa said the party will not impose a new manifesto on the electorate without reviewing the previous one.
Finalise legislation
“Over the next two months we will be taking this manifesto review process to the different parts of our country, engaging communities in cities, towns, villages, factories, farms and our places of work,” he said.
“The NHI bill is now in the NCOP [National Council of Provinces], having received enthusiastic support from the majority of participants during the public hearings in the provinces, and we urge parliament to finalise this important legislation as soon as possible.”
On the proliferation of illegal mining, Ramaphosa said the government is working on legislation to close derelict mines.
“We are acting to address the proliferation of illegal mining in derelict and ownerless mines, and fast-tracking programmes to seal such shafts. Law enforcement continues to deal with the criminal aspects of this phenomenon,” he said.
“The restrictions on development placed on us as the government are detrimental to development and progress. Red tape and restrictions impede us from doing right by our people. I have directed ministers and various people to get us to start looking at the unnecessary laws that would, if not changed, violate people’s rights,” he said.
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