PORT ELIZABETH, April 16 – The African National Congress threatened to take a tough stance on non-delivery and corrupt officials, particularly at municipal level, as the party launched its August 3 local government election manifesto in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
“At the municipal level, in the next five years, we will ensure that all ANC councillors abide by the ANC’s code of conduct. The ANC will prevent municipal officials and councillors and their immediate family members from doing business with municipalities,” President Jacob Zuma told thousands of robust ANC supporters at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“The ANC will ensure the implementation of recommendations emanating from forensic investigations conducted in municipalities. The ANC will hold corrupt municipal officials and councillors liable for the losses incurred by the municipality as a result of their corrupt actions.”
Zuma said that under the ANC-led government great strides had been made in fighting crime and corruption.
“Progress is being made in the fight against crime and corruption. A total of 234 government officials were arrested, tried, and convicted for corruption-related offences since 2014,” he said.
“Orders were obtained to freeze assets gained through wrongful means to the value of R601 million during the 2015/2016 financial year. Government has recovered a total of R4 billion since 2009. The anti-fraud and anti-corruption programmes continue.”
Zuma said unemployment levels in South Africa, particularly among the youth, was a major concern for the party.
“It is of concern to the ANC that many of our people, especially the youth, are sitting at home doing nothing because the economy is not growing fast enough to create much needed jobs. Our country, our continent, and the world are experiencing slow economic growth.
“[However] The ANC has a concrete plan in place to respond to the slow growth and create jobs. Our municipalities, guided by the National Development Plan, will place job creation and sustainable livelihoods at the centre of their local economic programmes,” he said.
Education remained the top priority for the ANC. “We wish to reiterate that education remains the apex priority of the ANC. Investment in education will assist us to achieve all our socio-economic development goals.
“Our policies and programmes have opened the doors of learning. More than nine million children at primary and secondary schools benefit from school feeding schemes. Further, more than nine million children do not pay school fees because they come from poor households.”
Zuma said government policies under the ANC leadership had also opened the doors of learning to poor children.
“We have offered more opportunities for the children of the poor in higher education institutions. Student loans are now being converted into bursaries for qualifying final year students. Students in further education and training colleges who qualify for financial aid are now exempted from paying fees,” he said to applause from ANC supporters.
On healthcare, Zuma said municipalities played a key role in healthcare provision.
“We are happy to report that South Africans are now living longer due to improved healthcare. The average life expectancy increased from 53 years in 2004 to 62 years in 2015.
“We want clinics that put the people first, which have caring staff, and which do not run out of medicine.”
The massive roll-out of HIV/Aids treatment since 2009 had contributed to a dramatic improvement in the health of South Africans.
“Improved treatment is also being provided by clinics and hospitals for many other illnesses as well such as tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes, and high blood pressure.”
He said healthcare improvements would be taken forward within the next five years.
Numerous seats were empty in the stadium as Zuma delivered his speech. Earlier, ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete said the blazing sun had caused ANC supporters to shun sections of the stadium. But these sections remained empty even as Zuma delivered his speech after 1pm.
– African News Agency (ANA)
