S. Africa's ruling party proposes organizational changes, underscores discipline

South Africa's ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), has proposed various organizational changes aimed at making the party operate efficiently.

At a media briefing in Johannesburg on Sunday, Fikile Mbalula, chairperson of ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Subcommittee on Organizational Development said, the ANC would like to elect capable leadership who are disciplined and are well-groomed to serve the organization and the masses.

According to the chairperson, the party proposed a program of political education training, and they have been sending some of its senior cadres to political education schools in China. The party also proposes to reduce the number of the NEC members to a manageable size. The ANC currently have 86 NEC members.

"We want to do like the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee who have no more than 25 politburo members. The CPC politburo members are not parachuted to these positions, they have undergone rigorous developments and understand the party. We want to reduce the size of the NEC and balance it with women and children selected on the strength of ideological development," said Mbalula.

The party also proposes the establishment of party structures in different sectors of society. These will include in the corporate, universities, state enterprises and other sectors.

A Revolutionary Council was also proposed, which will vet party officials who had been selected for party positions like the NEC. Mbalula said, "We need leaders with impeccable credentials. The Revolutionary Council will scrutinize and interrogate nominees and ensure we do not elect what we call 'factory faults.' The Revolutionary Council members should be party veterans who have no interest to lead but implement the ANC constitution."

The ANC will have the National Policy Conference from June 30 to July 5, where the proposals will be discussed and finally become resolutions.

The first two days will be dedicated to the discussion to address the weaknesses of the organization. Some senior party members have been of late publicly expressing different views on policy issues. Mbalula said they would also want to improve the party discipline which they have identified.

"We want the ANC to be self-oriented or renew without losing traditional outlook. We want the party to be responsive to be inclusive and respond to the current conjecture. We want the party to adapt with time and reexamine itself. If we do not do that the organization will die," he said.

"We want senior members to exercise maximum discipline. NEC members must think before they speak. NEC and Cabinet members must lead and provide direction. Their rights are limited. They have to explain policy issues," he added.

The decisions taken at the ANC Policy Conference will be approved by the Elective Conference in December 2017. Enditem