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21 May 2017
Statement of the ANC NEC Subcommittee on
Legislature and Governance Policy Discussion Document
towards the National Policy Conference
Preparations for the ANC National Policy Conference entail consultations with
key sectors of our society, so as to ensure that the ANC is not blinded to the
voices of our people. This media conference is an important step towards
reaching more members of our society in frank and open discourse about the key
state matters that affect the lives of South Africans.
South Africa has advanced since the 1994 democratic breakthrough. The ANC led
restructuring and transformation in various sectors of the society albeit to
varying degrees and impact. The main challenges of poverty, in-equality and
land dispossession persist. The capacity and capability of the state is the
most critical factor to the solution of this challenge.
Over the past 20 years the ANC governments in all three spheres have delivered
basic services at an unprecedented scale. We still have many backlogs to
address to recover from the effects of the apartheid spatial development and
racist delivery processes. New challenges have, however, emerged, including
the need to improve the quality of basic services as opposed to a focus only on
quantity; addressing rapid urbanisation through the extension of services and
infrastructure in urban areas; and the expansion of the basket of social
welfare support. All of these require much smarter approaches including greater
use of new technologies.
Whilst continuing to deliver services to those who don't have, the ANC
government must also address the new demands of the empowered. And all of this
is done in an economy which is not growing sufficiently to cater for the new.
This illuminates the paradox of the success of our democratic state.
Importantly, 83% of South Africans live on 2% of the land surface of South
Africa. The continuous increase in urbanization and densities of these areas
create further governance and developmental challenges.
The central theme and primary task of this paper is to build the capacity of
the state. The ability to plan, implement, enforce, monitor and achieve the
desired objectives. The policy paper focuses largely on the capacity and
capability of the state, in respect to political institutions and the state
machinery. It addresses issues of governance, configuration of the state, the
public service, institutions supporting democracy and the framework for state
owned entities.
To do this we must ensure the capacity of the state and the capabilities of the
people working for the state, are continuously improved. We must ensure we
better integrate what we do across the many spheres and sectors of government,
and we enable all the elements of civil society to become more active in
working with the state to achieve its aims.
At the heart of the legislature and governance policy paper is an assertion
that power belongs to the people. The ANC has been entrusted with political
power to advance and pursue the needs of the people. This is irrespective of
whether you voted for the ANC or not, the ANC government cares about all the
citizens, and it remains the premier organization capable of driving the
transformation programme.
The policy paper clearly articulates that, despite significant achievements
since 1994, the broader task of social and economic transformation is far from
over. The paper also acknowledges that state institutions still require
transformation to adequately meet the needs of South Africans.
Economic discontents are dealt with extensively in the economic transformation
sector. However the state has a key role to play in enabling the policy and
legislative environment conducive for economic transformation. The tools for
economic transformation under the state include licensing, transformation
charters, land reform, state procurement and interventions by DFI and SOEs.
To address some of the structural deficiencies and coordination in building a
capable state, the policy paper posits that the Presidency is the Strategic
Centre of Governance. Therefore the Presidency must be re-configured and
capacitated to drive strategic coordination, resource planning and
prioritization in line with the objectives of developmental state and the
National Development Plan. This must include alignment of public service
administration, provinces, municipalities and state owned enterprises.
The ANC has noted with serious concern the escalating levels of corruption in
the society, this include both the public and private sector. We note that this
is fast becoming a threat to good governance. We are consulting extensively
with civil society and key role players on effective mechanism to combat
corruption. The policy conference will pronounce on precise and targeted
mechanisms and policy instruments to decisively deal with corruption in our
society.
The policy paper also notes the leading role played by SOEs in creating
economic and social infrastructure such electricity, rail, roads, water, and
provision of housing and schools. We have unfortunately also noted that some of
the SOEs are plagued by issues of poor governance and allegations of
corruption. The process of consultation and finalizing the governance and
oversight protocols for SOEs in underway. This will focus on how to we empower
the public to hold SOEs accountable, how, legislatures play their role in
tightening oversight and the executive taking full control in managing their
portfolio of SOEs.
The policy paper also repositions the fifth parliament to lead the society as a
true people's parliament. This includes strengthening the NCOP as the centre of
provinces and municipalities. The institutional structure of parliament will
also be strengthened with new political offices necessary to fully execute the
mandate.
The ANC is reviewing the system of traditional leadership. Intense engagements
and consultations with key role players in the traditional governance system is
underway. There is a planned consultative conference on traditional leadership
which will advance the course of this sector.
In respect of provincial and local government, previous ANC conferences have
adopted transformative resolutions in respect of fiscal configuration,
governance and service delivery institutionalization. These resolutions will
require significant resources, time and legislative amendments to be
implemented.
In summary this policy paper makes policy recommendations on the following
areas:
i. The need to consolidate political power in all spheres of
government to drive transformation: In order to improve its effectiveness and
efficiency in both selecting the right election candidates and running its
election campaigns, a dedicated political and technical election machinery is
to be developed. An ANC Electoral Commission will also focus on ensuring the
credibility, integrity and capacity of ANC elected public representatives.
ii. That given the scale and complexity of government's
delivery across three spheres of government and the SoEs, the strategic centre
of power in the Presidency must be strengthened to drive the implementation of
the NDP, align planning and policy, resource allocation and enforcement. The
aim here is to improve the alignment and integration of policies and
development across the spheres and sectors of government. In addition, a
Presidential commission on provinces will be established to review the
alignment of powers of functions of all three spheres of government, with a
specific focus on the Provincial roles and responsibilities.
iii. That the public service must be modernized, made smarter,
more capable and must operate more effectively, efficiently and economically.
iv. That the National Spatial Development Framework, being
developed by the NPC and DPME, and the Integrated Urban Development Framework,
coordinated by COGTA, must guide, align and structure developmental outcomes to
redress the spatial injustices of apartheid whilst improving the efficiency and
effectiveness of development across our country.
v. That we must establish political centres in our
legislatures consistent with other arms of state, the speaker of parliament,
the establishment of a Chief Whip of Parliament. We need to review the roles
and responsibilities of legislatures. We need to review the NCOP and strengthen
its role as a political centre for provinces and local government.
vi. We must ensure the urgent implementation of the review of
SOE report and the oversight and governance of SoEs must be strengthened.
vii. That the roles and responsibilities of traditional leadership
need to be resolved and in this regard that a consultative conference be held.
The ANC is not oblivious to the magnitude of challenges facing our people. We
share in the people's impatience to overcome the crises of un-employment,
crime, poverty and growing in-equality and corruption.
The ANC remains loyal to the freedom charter and the principle that "THE PEOPLE
SHALL GOVERN ". Therefore, the attainment of power by the ANC is a means to
fulfil the will of the people by ensuring a better life for all.
Issued by ANC NEC Subcommittee on Legislature and Governance subcommittee
Enquiries:
Zizi Kodwa, National Spokesperson, 082 330 4910
Khusela Sangoni, National Communications Manager, 072 854 5707
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