Statement on the Cabinet meeting of 15 May 2013

1. Cabinet’s position on prominent issues in the current environment

1.1. Cabinet expressed concern at recent labour unrest at Lonmin’s Marikana Mine which has led to the downing of tools and a disruption of productivity. The dispute is reported as centering around issues of majority representation involving the National Union of Mineworkers and the Association for Mining and Construction Union.

Cabinet appeals to the leadership of both unions (NUM and AMCU) to resolve their dispute amicably and put the interests of the country and workers above everything else. Workers must be aware that the unprotected strike could have serious consequences not only for themselves, but for the future of the mine and that of their jobs.

Cabinet also appeals to Lonmin management to do everything possible to make sure that the problems are resolved as soon as possible without further damage. It is in the best interest of the country for both unions and management at Lonmin to demonstrate required levels of leadership and industrial relations management.

1.2. Cabinet fully supports the preliminary findings from the investigation into the unauthorised landing of a civilian aircraft at Waterkloof Air Force Base.

Cabinet stressed that the safety and sovereignty of South Africa is of paramount importance. Violation of laws and rules relevant to the ports of entry and facilities of strategic national importance must be dealt with firmly and without fear or favour. Those who are found to infringe and compromise regulations must face the full might of the law.

1.3. Cabinet welcomes the work by Government Departments which has been reported on by various Ministers during the departmental Budget Votes. Cabinet notes that the coverage afforded to the Budget Votes assists in empowering citizens with information and holding government accountable.

1.4. Cabinet welcomes the discussions between the Department of Basic Education and the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) which led to the suspension of protest action.

Cabinet calls on all stakeholders in the education sector to resolve their disputes so that education of our young people is not compromised.

1.5. Cabinet noted the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) which shows an increase in the unemployment rate from 24,9 per cent to 25,2 per cent.
Government is accelerating measures, such as the state-led infrastructure drive, to increase employment through Public Sector interventions.

Government together with labour and business launched the Social Accord on Youth Employment in April 2013. This further demonstrates a collective commitment towards addressing the issue of unemployment. It maps out individual sector pledges to contribute in fighting youth unemployment with concrete targets and time frames for successful execution, monitoring and collective evaluation of the identified interventions.

Cabinet remains confident that measures already underway will assist the country to create new jobs and realise its target of five-million new jobs by 2020.

1.6. Cabinet welcomes the signing of an action plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Biodiversity Conservation and Protection between South Africa and Vietnam.

The Implementation Plan will run until 2017 and will assist efforts to combat crime involving wildlife, particularly rhino poaching. Cabinet reiterates that Government is committed to addressing the scourge of rhino poaching and reaffirms that perpetrators will be prosecuted.

1.7. Cabinet welcomes the announcement by the Department of Home Affairs to pilot the Smart ID card system, which further consolidates our national identity and enhances national security.

This key milestone holds the potential to speed up government services, while cutting down on crime and corruption involving identity documents.

Cabinet calls on South Africans to support this process so that by 2020 we are all in receipt of a Smart ID Card as a form of national identification.

1.8. Cabinet condemns the attack on a United Nations convoy in Abyei, Sudan, which resulted in the deaths of a tribal chief and an Ethiopian peacekeeper. This regrettable incident threatens the stability of Abyei as well as the progress recently achieved by Sudan and South Sudan.

1.9. Cabinet  denounces the attack on Syria by the Israeli security forces. Cabinet calls on the United Nations to prevail on external forces to respect the sovereignty of Syria and to allow Syrians to work together in resolving their disputes.

1.10. Cabinet welcomed the inauguration of Advocate Lawrence Mushwana as the new Chairperson of the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. This is the first time that Africa heads the office of the Chairperson of the ICC. The position of ICC Chairperson secures increased focus on the country’s human rights track record and its compliance with international human rights obligations.

1.11. Cabinet welcomed that the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity which will be celebrated on Africa Day, 25 May 2013.

Cabinet highlighted that the solidarity of the OAU in excluding the apartheid government from its organs uplifted our struggle for freedom and attainment of democracy.

South Africa will join the continent in commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the African Union. The activities include a month-long exhibition of contemporary visual arts in the SADC region from 24 May to 28 June 2013. The Africa Institute of South Africa will also convene the academic community and diaspora as part of the commemorations on 19-21 May 2013. Furthermore, there will be an exhibition at the Ditsong Museum (City of Tshwane) to commemorate Africa Day on 21 May 2013 under the theme “50 Years after forming the Organisation of African Union – Africa must unite or Perish”. This will be followed by a Africa Day music concert at the Union Buildings on 25 May 2013.

1.12. Cabinet welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s speedy response to the invitation by a community member to visit the people of Eldorado Park and neighbouring  Kliptown, on Tuesday, 14 May 2013. The community’s request was to discuss the escalating illegal drug trafficking and abuse problem in the area.

Government, together with the community, has committed to accelerate the intervention programme to stop the scourge that is destroying young people.

1.13. Cabinet welcomed the follow up visit by Deputy President Motlanthe, accompanied by leaders of the three spheres of government, to De Doorns in the Western Cape on Saturday 11 May 2013. The visit and dialogue with stakeholders including farmworkers stems from the initial visit of the Deputy President on 12 February 2013. Solid progress was noted from a number of departments in improving services in the area. The commitment demonstrated by all parties lays a solid foundation for ongoing engagement toward a sustainable agrarian sector.

2. Key Cabinet discussions and decisions

2.1. Cabinet was briefed on preparations for Child Protection Week (CPW) between 27 May and 2 June 2013, under the theme: “Working together to protect children.”

The child and youth dialogues are being conducted in all provinces as a build up to the launch of Child Protection Week and the Conference. As part of awareness-raising, Child Protection Week will be launched together with the orphans, vulnerable children and youth (OVCY) Conference on 27 May at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

Cabinet calls on all South Africans to contribute towards the protection of our children and create a safe and secure environment. South Africans can visibly demonstrate their support by wearing a green ribbon as a symbol of life, growth, hope, care and support for our future leaders.

The focus of Child Protection Week and the Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth Conference is on child participation in our society and communities so that children are heard on matters affecting them.

2.2.  Cabinet approved the National Aquaculture Policy Framework (NAPF). This policy provides a unified framework for the establishment and development of an industry that contributes towards sustainable job creation and increased investment.

The NAPF was developed against the backdrop of a global aquaculture sector that has seen an increased demand for fishery products. In South Africa, marine and freshwater aquaculture presents a good opportunity to diversify fish production to satisfy local demand, contribute to food security, job creation, economic development and rural development, and export opportunities.

2.3.  Cabinet approved that South Africa hosts the Third Global Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change in the fourth quarter of 2013, led by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Food security remains a major concern and the Conference will have positive implications for how we produce, manage and utilise food. Since COP17/CMP7, South Africa has been one of the leading countries in promoting climate smart agriculture, which responds to the challenges of food security and climate change. The Global Conference aims to develop forms of growth that are socially and environmentally sustainable.

2.4. Cabinet approved South Africa’s ratification of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Annex to the Southern African Development Community’s Protocol on Trade and for this to be submitted to Parliament.

The SADC Protocol on Trade to which South Africa has acceded serves to promote regional cooperation and integration amongst member states for trade in goods and services within the region, including agricultural products.

The SADC SPS Annex to the SADC Protocol on Trade provides an enabling framework for SPS cooperation. It also promotes harmonisation of SPS measures based on international standards and guidelines in order to facilitate safe and fair trade of agriculture products in the region.

2.5. Cabinet was updated on progress relating to South Africa’s hosting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) meetings in 2013, which includes the Inter-sessional meeting in Kimberley from 4 to 7 June and the KPCS Plenary in Gauteng from 26 to 29 November 2013. The hosting of the KPCS meetings will contribute to the promotion of the diamond industry and tourism.

South Africa’s position as chair of the KPCS gives recognition to the key role that South Africa plays in the international diamond sector. As the chair South Africa aims to strengthen international trade relations, with a view to consolidate and increase the African footprint within the KPCS and contribute to a safer global environment.

3. Bills

3.1.  Cabinet approved the publication of the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill 2013 and Memorandum on the Objects of the Bill, for public comment.

This gives effect to the President’s 2013 State of Nation Address announcement on proposed amendments to the Restitution Act. This relates to extending the date for lodgment of claims for restitution, to enable those parties that did not submit claims by the closing date of 31 December 1998 or who were excluded from the process, to submit.

The re-opening of lodgment of claims is guided by the vision of the National Development Plan as well as the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme and other growth strategies intended to promote national reconciliation and social cohesion.

3.2. Cabinet approved the submission of the Electronic Communication Amendment Bill to Parliament.

The amendment was necessitated by the liberalisation of the electronic communications sector and rapid technological advancements which have rendered the continued presence of some provisions in the Act redundant. The Amendments seeks to deal with competition promotion limitation, access to electronic communications infrastructure, communication costs as well as improving turnaround time for consultative processes.

The Amendment Bill aligns the Act with broad-based black economic empowerment legislation; refines licensing issues; improves competition provisions; removes regulatory bottlenecks and provides for matters connected to this.

3.3. Cabinet approved the submission of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Amendment Bill to Parliament. The Amendment Bill responds to some of the issues in the National Development Plan (NDP).

The amendments of the Independent Communication Authority Act No. 13 of 2002 (ICASA Act) are underpinned by the need for institutional improvements to strengthen the independent Authority. This will be through the provision of clarity on aspects of its powers; to align the Act more closely to the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and to improve its efficiency. This is with a view to improve accountability and transparency which will contribute to sound governance practices within ICASA.

Government needs to play a greater role to ensure that the electronic communications sector is regulated in a manner that supports overall national goals. This should not be read to suggest any limitation on ICASA’s independence.

The importance of an independent and impartial regulator for the communications sector cannot be overemphasised.

4. Appointments

4.1. Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr Ebrahim Mohamed as the Commissioner of the National Consumer Commission for a period of five (5) years.

Source: Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), 16 May 2013

From 7 May – 12 June 2013, Cabinet Ministers of all 32 national government departments and the Presidency will table and deliver their departmental 2013 Budget Votes in the National Assembly of the Parliament of the Republic South Africa.

The Budget Votes are of strategic importance and require proactive monitoring and analysis. The purpose of the Budget Votes are to give further detail to the framework provided by the Minister of Finance in the National Budget Speech delivered on 27 February 2013, for the manner in which government departments will spend and investment their revenue allocations and the returns that these aimed at realizing.

The Budget Votes are also an opportunity for Ministers to give provide Parliament (by virtue of its oversight, accountability and legislative mandate) and the nation with a status report on the performance of government department in pursuit of the Cabinet and Government’s performance and outcomes based agreements entered into with the President of the Republic.

As such, the occasion of the Budget Votes also provide Government to make a number of crucial announcements on key interventions in the various portfolios to enhance impact, development and delivery.

The ensuing political statements delivered and inevitable political debates that arise will provide value political intelligence to be further analysed and deconstructed in order for ongoing government relations, policy, legislative, regulatory and political advocacy and lobbying activities to be enriched and informed by it; as well as to develop an ongoing deep understanding and interpretation of key political issues and how these need to be navigated going forward.

Click here for a detailed schedule of budget votes, as frequently updated by Parliament: 2013 Budget Votes_08May2013

NOTE: Dates and details are subject to change without prior notification at the discretion of Parliament. Best attempts will be made to proactively monitor potential changes and to report and advise on these accordingly.

Coega Industrial Development Zone & port

The National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has called on interested and affected parties to have their say on the Special Economic Zones Bill (B3-2013). The Committee is asking for submissions on the Bill after which parties will be invited to make oral submission during public hearings on the Bill. Unlike with other bills, Parliament has based on the viability of associated costs not advertised the call for public comments in the mainstream media.

The Bill provides for the designation, promotion, development, operation and management of Special Economic Zones. It further provides for the establishment, appointment of members and functioning of the Special Economic Zones Advisory Board.

The Bill also envisages to empower the Minister to establish the Special Economic Zones Fund, to regulate the application, issuing, suspension, withdrawal and transfer of Special Economic Zones operator permits, to provide for functions of the Special Economic Zones operator and to provide for transitional arrangements and to provide for matters connected therewith.

The Committee has invited interested individuals and groups wishing to comment to forward written submissions to the Committee by no later than Friday, 3 May 2013. Public hearings have been scheduled for 15 and 17 May 2013.

Interested and affected parties who wish to make submissions on the Bill and/or engage with and stay abreast of the parliamentary process and proceedings, can get into contact with us for assistance and facilitation on: intouch@ethicore.co.za

A full copy of the Bill and an overview is attached on the link below for convenience.

b 3 – 2013 (special economic zones)

Overview of the Special Economic Zones Bill_29April2013

]]> http://www.ethicore.co.za/2013/04/29/special-economic-zones-bill-parliament-calls-for-submissions/feed/ 0 http://www.ethicore.co.za/2013/02/13/state-of-the-nation-address-2013-pre-analysis/ http://www.ethicore.co.za/2013/02/13/state-of-the-nation-address-2013-pre-analysis/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:43:59 +0000 Abdul Waheed Patel http://www.ethicore.co.za/?p=2513

On the eve of the 2013 State of the Nation Address (SONA), ETHICORE commends Parliament on its adoption of the theme “Socio-economic development through oversight and public participation” for the 2013 SONA.

Citizen activism and engagement is a central feature and tenet of the National Development Plan (NDP) recently endorsed and adopted by Government and the ruling African National Congress, and which has been coalesced around by key sectors of society (e.g. business, labour, civil society and political parties) as the official blueprint for the country.

Effective parliamentary oversight of government, policy implementation, legislative compliance and regulatory efficiency, as well as facilitating dynamic and robust public participation and consultation with citizens and key sectors of society, is a fundamental Constitutional requirement of the legislature as a whole, in order to give practical effect to the Constitutional requirements of cooperative governance and a people-centred Parliament.

When undertaken effectively, such dynamic parliamentary oversight and public participation significantly enhances the prospects for improved government performance, accountability and quality legislative and policy decision-making. Effective public and citizen advocacy can significantly contribute to enriching the quality of dialogue and debate on issues of key national importance.

The 2013 State of the Nation address should set the tone for how Parliament needs to capacitate and integrate its structures, processes and procedures to improve Parliamentary oversight of and engagement with the NDP, and the role of public participation and consultation therein. This includes ensuring that Parliamentary oversight; as well as parliamentary public and stakeholder consultation on the NDP is aligned with departmental budget allocations and strategic plans and priorities.

The extent of the focus on the NDP in the 2012 SONA, therefore has the prospect of fundamentally reshaping the parliamentary landscape from an oversight and participatory perspective – a most challenging and demanding litmus test for the 2013 parliamentary SONA theme and the context for Parliament’s work over the remainder of 2013 and the run-up to the 2014 general elections.

Issued by: Abdul Waheed Patel
Managing Director
079 888 0452
awpatel@ethicore.co.za

Enquiries: Wisahl Jappie, Consultant
072 227 1144
wjappie@ethicore.co.za

ETHICORE Political Consulting is a leading and preeminent South African political consultancy, principally specializing in all aspects of political analysis, advocacy and lobbying, governmental relations, parliamentary affairs and political communications.
http://www.ethicore.co.za

Amano was in South Africa as part of an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission, through which IAEA experts had been requested to conduct an independent assessment of South Africa’s nuclear infrastructure and its readiness to pursue major new developments. The INIR had been identified by government as a critical milestone ahead of any investment decision and/or public consultation process. The IAEA mission followed on from a South African self-assessment report, which was completed in mid-2012 and which had been submitted to the IAEA team. The IAEA experts, who visited South Africa between January 30 and February 8, had already compiled a preliminary report, which was handed to government at 11:00 on Friday, February 8.

The review, which is not legally binding, assessed the country’s readiness to start purchasing, constructing and operating nuclear power plants and is based on an evidence-based questionnaire covering 19 key nuclear issues, from funding and financing through to security and waste management.

Details of possible policy, technical, regulatory, safety, security and skills gaps were not immediately divulged, but Magubane said that government was committed to making the results public once the final IAEA report became available. Amano praised government openness, saying that it was important for the credibility of the nuclear industry for both the good and the bad news to be shared.

Meanwhile, Department of Energy (DoE) director-general Nelisiwe Magubane revealed on Friday that South Africa is likely to reach a “point of no return” with regard to a proposed new nuclear energy build programme by June this year. She was speaking at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (Necsa’s) Pelindaba site, west of Pretoria, following a meeting with Amano.

Magubane said the country was progressing through the various milestones endorsed by Cabinet ahead of any nuclear decision and indicated that that government still considered the solution as central to meeting the policy objectives of supply security and reducing the country’s carbon footprint.

South Africa’s current Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for the period 2010 to 2030 envisaged the deployment of 9 600 MW of new nuclear capacity between 2023 and 2030. However, delays to the process meant that the first new nuclear capacity was unlikely to enter the system by 2023 as initially envisaged.

In addition, the IRP was due for review, with most energy-sector observers having noted that it is no longer aligned with changes in the global electricity sector, notably in the low proportion of generation capacity allocated to natural gas. In addition, the demand-growth assumptions were unlikely to be met, owing to far slower economic growth and rising power prices.

Nevertheless, Magubane indicated that a nuclear determination was likely to be published by Minister Dipuo Peters in March, which would be followed by a decision on a build programme by June. This decision would be overseen by National Nuclear Energy Executive Coordination Committee (NNEECC), which is chaired by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

The NNEECC comprises political and technical components and included Ministers and directors-general from DoE, the National Treasury, the Department of Public Enterprises, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Environmental Affairs. Representatives from Eskom, which has been designated as the owner-operator of any new nuclear power plants, Necsa and the National Nuclear Regulator have seconded staff to its technical committees.

The DoE has commissioned consultants to interrogate the cost and financing options associated with the development, which some have estimated could involve and investment of up to R1-trillion. Those cost projections together with the possible financing frameworks would be delivered to the NNEECC by June and would be used to inform any procurement process that could arise.

ETHICORE Political Consulting is a leading South African and regional advocacy, lobbying, government relations, political risk and political communications firm, specialising in servicing highly regulated industries, including the energy sector.

We wish newly elected party officials well in the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities and welcome those policy resolutions taken which contribute too strengthening the global positioning of the country and the conditions for achieving sustainable and inclusive national development.

In particular, this includes:

• Commitments made to strengthen and develop the capacity and performance of the state, including through measures for improved conduct of public officials.
• The endorsement of the National Development Plan and its integration with existing policies and programs.
• The clarity offered thus far regarding the nationalization debate and the nature of state intervention in the economy.

We welcome and look forward to the opportunity of engaging with the new elected leadership and its representatives in Parliament and the state on the formulation and implementation of detailed plans in respect of these.

Issued by: Abdul Waheed Patel, Managing Director – 079 888 0452

Enquiries: Wisahl Jappie – 072 227 1144 wjappie@ethicore.co.za

ETHICORE Political Consulting is a leading and preeminent South African political consultancy, principally specializing in all aspects of political analysis, advocacy and lobbying, governmental relations, parliamentary affairs and political communications.

In particular, ETHICORE welcomes the certainty and end to speculation and anticipation that that the confirmation of their appointment brings with it.

Going forward, ETHICORE looks forward to constructive engagement with the newly elected party leadership.

ETHICORE would like to encourage the new leadership of the party to ensure that:

1. The party is stabilized so as to ensure the stability of society more broadly, given the party’s dominant position in broader South African society.

2. The credibility and integrity of Parliament as the national legislative and oversight authority and forum for dialogue, engagement and public participation on issues of national interest and importance.  This includes the review of the rules of Parliament; consideration of electoral reform to a constituency based parliamentary system to improve accountability, public participation and consultation; citizen advocacy and activism so as to strengthen and enhance the role of Parliament in overseeing quality policy-making and implementation, law-making and regulation. Critical in this regard, is the non-politicization of constructive suggestions for Parliamentary consideration and decision-making irrespective of their origin, which are fundamentally in the national interest, sound, evidence based, demonstrably viable and feasible and rational, which have the potential to meaningfully contribute to enhancing the achievement of national development priorities and challenges.

3. Ensuring policy clarity and certainty, with consistency and flexibility as required. For example, the role of the state in the economy, particular strategic economic and industrial sectors and the party’s position on the National Development Plan as the blueprint for the country and the economy.

Not only is policy clarity and certainty imperative, so too is policy consistency between the various aspects of Governments economic and development policy mix, in both prevailing policy options and future policy trajectory. These are necessary for mitigating against possible competing and duplicating policy interests and to maximize the cumulative impact of mutually inclusive policies.

As the focus of the conference shifts to the finalisation of the remainder of the 80-member ANC national executive committee and the conclusion of policy resolutions, ETHICORE wishes ANC delegates well in the remainder of their conference deliberations and looks forward to the outcome of these.

Issued by: Abdul Waheed Patel (Managing Director) – 079 888 0452

Enquiries: Wisahl Jappie – 072 227 1144

ETHICORE Political Consulting is a leading and preeminent South African political consultancy, principally specializing in all aspects of political analysis, advocacy and lobbying, governmental relations, parliamentary affairs and political communications.

In a landslide victory, Jacob Zuma was today reelected for a second terms as President of the African National Congress (ANC) – the African continent’s oldest liberation movement and South Africa’s ruling party, at is 53^rd national and elective conference. The conference kicked off in the city of Mangaung in South Africa’s Free State Province on 16 December, until 20 December 2012. Out of the 4076 registered delegates, 3977 delegates qualified to vote.

Mr. Zuma secured 75% of the vote, firmly strengthening his grip on the party with the backing of a slate of candidates who have swelled the ranks of the upper echelon of the party.

Voting results for the top six positions of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (in order of appearance on the ballot paper)

President:

Jacob Zuma (2982 votes)

Kgalema Motlanthe (991 votes)

Deputy President:

Cyril Ramaphosa (3018)

Tokyo Sexwale (463)

Matthews Phosa (470)

National Chairperson:

Baleka Mbete (3010)

Thandi Modise (939)

Secretary-General:

Gwede Mantashe (3058)

Fikile Mbalula (901)

Deputy Secretary-General:

Jessie Duarte (elected un apposed)

Treasurer General:

Paul Mashatile (961)

Zweli Mkhize (2988)

The focus of the conference now turns to the finalisation of policy resolutions by the conference plenary and the election of the remaining members of the 80-member National Executive Committee of the ANC.

The results of the election of candidates to the ANC NEC will be further indication of how systemic the trend in slate politics might be in take root in the ANC and the extent to which the party faithful balance allegiance with a group of individuals with the competency, capability and skills required to ensured that the policy objectives adopted and can be effectively overseen and accounted for by a broader party leadership that will have to oversee and account for its implementation.

ETHICORE will be closely monitoring, analyzing and reporting on the outcomes and implications of the conference, throughout its duration and on a customized basis for clients thereafter. This includes political and risk analysis, briefing papers and research reports. For more information and enquiries in this regard, kindly do not hesitate to contact us.

Abdul Waheed Patel is Managing Director at ETHICORE Political Consulting. He specialises in policy consulting, analysis and risk, including South African political parties, post-apartheid democratic politics and parliamentary democracy.

ANC President Jacob Zuma’s political report to the opening session of the party’s 53^rd national elective conference in the city of Mangaung in South Africa’s Free State Province yesterday, was highly anticipated to set the tone for the conference deliberations and proceedings. The occasion of the political report represented more than just the opportunity for a political speech. As an opportunity for Mr. Zuma to reflect on the successes and achievements of the party under his leadership since the historic 2007 Polokwane conference which ushered him in as party president, the occasion of the speech represented an exercise in political communications for Mr. Zuma to consolidate his campaign for a second term as party president, and effectively state president. Therefore the speech represented a strategic opportunity for Mr. Zuma to spell out in detail to both his supporters and detractors, how he has been able to harness the collective leadership and skills within the party to deliver on the mandate given to him by the party in 2007. By the same token, it was an opportunity for Mr. Zuma to impose collective responsibility on the leadership and membership of the party for its failures and disappointing performance in certain areas, at both the level of the party and the state.

So how exactly did Mr. Zuma fair? Here are some analysis and thoughts on his speech.

Something for everyone

In style typical of the man that is Jacob Zuma (some would call this populist), Mr. Zuma’s speech reached out to a broad base of ANC members and its alliance partners in the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Community Party (SACP), as well as business people, the investment community, rating agencies and the international community. Even for media and opposition political parties, Mr. Zuma was frank in his assessment of the performance and challenges of the ANC is areas such as corruption and public procurement, on which he has come under constant criticism from these quarters.  He was clearly not only speaking to the party as an audience, but to the nation and observers at large.

Internal lobbying and contestation

Mr. Zuma was frank in confronting and condemning the negative tendencies associated with the kinds of lobbying for positions within the party and the negative and anti-social behaviour that have become associated with these e.g. violence and character assassination. In essence, Mr. Zuma made a case for such behaviour being un-ANC and that such behaviour and party members who resort to it, have no place in the ANC and the mass democratic movement that it leads. Interestingly though, Mr. Zuma’s campaigners have had some of these very tendencies attributed to them. In his manner of criticizing these tendencies, Mr. Zuma condemned it and simultaneously disassociated himself with it, even though some of it may have been done in his name, without his explicit approval and endorsement.

However, where Mr. Zuma could have done more is to have used his speech to introduce ideas which could lay the basis for more thorough conference dialogue and deliberation on how best modernize the system for internal leadership contestation, campaigning and lobbying.

The ANC-led alliance

Despite criticism from COSATU in particular about a number of decisions of government under the Zuma-led administration, Mr. Zuma was conciliatory in his approach to the continued significance and importance of both COSATU and the SACP in the ANC-led alliance. However, Mr. Zuma was candid in his references to the need for alliance partners to express and address their grievances within the structures of the alliance, thereby maintaining the strength of the alliance.

He diplomatically, but sternly told COSATU what their place is in the alliance. Most telling of all was Mr. Zuma’s assertion that neither COSATU nor the SACP are in opposition to the ANC and that COSATU “…is not a political party…” and that “…the ANC stands for the interests of the entire nation irrespective of class or station in society.” Thus effectively neutralising perceptions of the perennial threat of COSATU contesting future elections as a labour party.

A performance scorecard of government

Mr. Zuma went into some detail to elaborate on the performance and efficiency gains achieved in his reconfiguration of government departments following his ascendance to the highest office in the land. This included the functioning of government under an expanded cabinet system. This is perhaps an indication of few changes being contemplated under his leadership should he be re-elected for a second term at the helm of the party and therefore by implication a second term as president of the country. Tactfully, these aspects of Mr. Zuma’s speech linked with other remarks he made about the qualities, characteristics and experience of cadres the party requires in order to be able to lead effectively in government – clearly painting an image of himself as such as a cadre of the party who espouse these characteristics and therefore worthy of reelection for a second term at the helm of the party.

National Development Plan

The political report delivered by Mr. Zuma was his strongest advocacy and stewardship to date on the NDP produced by the National Planning Commission established under his presidency.  This amounted to positioning the NDP as the centerpiece and primary driver of government action into the future.

Against the backdrop of Minister for National Planning in the Presidency – Trevor Manuel announcing his unavailability to serve on the party’s national executive committee, by centrally locating the NDP within his political report, Mr. Zuma’s speech delicately and discretely sent the message that the good work led by the honorable Minister Manuel is to the credit of party.

For the first time, Mr. Zuma and for that matter any leader of the ANC used a major party platform to fully embrace and promote the NDP and to encourage the party to consider how best to adopt and integrated it into the party policy resolutions. This will secure Mr. Zuma and the ANC substantial kudos from the business sector, which have recently coalesced around the NDP as the blueprint for the development of the country, around which all other policies, strategies, programmes and interventions of government must revolve.

Mr. Zuma’s stewardship and advocacy of the NDP can also been seen as an attempt to neutralize the rallying and support around the NDP by opposition political parties, who like the business sector regard it as a highly credible plan deserving of their support and which requires greater government commitment and parliamentary oversight.

However, it is important that ownership of the NDP by rank and file members of the party is achieved not for the purposes of avoiding it being usurped from the ANC by opposition parties for its credibility. The ANC must embrace it because it believes it to be the best plan for the country.

Policy certainty and clarity vs. Policy consistency

What was less clear in Mr. Zuma’s speech was the inter-linkages between the NDP and other prevailing centre-pieces of Government’s economy policy initiatives e.g. the New Growth Path, the Industrial Policy Action and the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. Instead the speech focused on the myriad of policy choices made the state, with less clear delineation of how these various policy instruments fit together, compliment and support each other. This raises important issues of the extent to which policy clarity and certainty (i.e. a clear understanding of the thrust and substantive nature of policy) and policy consistency (i.e. policy choices which do not compete and undermine each other, but which are mutually supportive and inclusive).

Role of the state in the economy

Given the recent coalescing of voices within the business sector calling for greater certainty about the role of state intervention in the economy, Mr. Zuma cleverly steered away from any reference and rhetoric to nationalization and strategic nationalization of strategic sectors in the economy, such as those which characterized his speeches at the July 2012 national policy conference of the party. On the face of it, this may be an attempt to appease the business and investment community who have recently coalesced to make an impassionate plea to the ruling party for policy certainty, clarity and to reconsider any nationalization of strategic economic sectors.

However, the devil lies in the details of conference policy deliberations to be engaged in by rank and file party members, who may well still push for more radical state intervention in the economy. It is well known that the vocal ANC Youth League intends to utilize the conference as a platform to reignite the debate on the strategic nature of state intervention in the economy, particularly the mining sector.

That said, Mr. Zuma did not mince his words about the transformational challenges facing the economy, which in itself can be interpreted as a subtle reference for delegates to consider more intrusive measures for state intervention in the economy.

Corruption

For a first time Mr. Zuma lamented the issue of corruption which plagues the performance of government and its roots in the ruling party. The challenge however is that Mr. Zuma himself and a number of others in the party’s national executive committee have had their personal and business dealings questioned. The old adage of leading from the front (or at least perceptions thereof), holds true. This notwithstanding, Mr. Zuma’s speech sent the right signal to society and the markets about a zero tolerance approach to corruption, which the party must now internalize to take appropriate action and policy resolutions around.

Conclusion

For already convinced supporters and loyalists firmly behind Mr. Zuma’s bid for a second term as president of the party, Mr. Zuma’s speech was a successful attempt to reassure them that their support is backed by demonstrable evidence of the positive performance of government and the party under his leadership.

Mr. Zuma invoked the spirit of the party’s 2007 Polokwane conference by referencing various parts of his speech to conference and policy resolutions adopted at Polokwane. With the Polokwane conference having catapulted him to the head of the party and the state, it is a powerful rallying point around which to keep captured the hearts and minds of his followers and supporters and in so doing poignantly reminding them of the circumstances under which he and his supporters came to the ascendency in the party.

ETHICORE will be closely monitoring, analyzing and reporting on the outcomes and implications of the conference, throughout its duration and on a customized basis for clients thereafter. This includes political and risk analysis, briefing papers and research reports. For more information and enquiries in this regard, kindly do not hesitate to contact us.

Abdul Waheed Patel is Managing Director at ETHICORE Political Consulting. He specialises in policy consulting, analysis and risk, including South African political parties, post-apartheid democratic politics and parliamentary democracy.

Click here to download: Political Report by President Jacob Zuma to the 53rd National Conference of the ANC

As the opening session of the 53^rd national elective conference of the African National Congress gets underway in the city of Mangaung in the South Africa’s Free State Province (16 – 20 December 2012), the following are a trio of key party issues and national imperatives that the ruling ANC must clearly effectively deliberate and resolve on.

1.  Stabillisation of the party, so as to reduce the negative destabilizing effects of the party’s instability on the functioning of government and the state, as well as broader society. This includes dealing with the modernization of the party in keeping with its fundamental democratic values and those of South African Constitution, in support of a modern and globally competitive South African economy, in order find new ways of doing old things. This is inclusive of effectively dealing with the modernization of lobbying and campaigning for party leadership, to keep pace with the evolution of modern party politics in South Africa, further mitigating against its destabilizing effects on the party and the state and society more broadly. This includes succession and continuity planning and any resultant changes in state leadership positions e.g. the composition of Cabinet and provincial executive committees and other relevant positions based on an objective assessment of performance based merit and capability and not political expediency.

2.  Restoring the credibility and integrity of Parliament as the national legislative and oversight authority and forum for dialogue, engagement and public participation on issues of national interest and importance.  This includes proposals for electoral reform to a constituency based parliamentary system to improve accountability, public participation and consultation, citizen advocacy and activism so as to strengthen and enhance the role of Parliament in overseeing quality policy-making and implementation, law-making and regulation. Critical in this regard, is the non-politicization of constructive suggestions for Parliamentary consideration and decision-making irrespective of their origin, which are fundamentally in the national interest, sound, evidence based, demonstrably viable and feasible and rational, which have the potential to meaningfully contribute to enhancing the achievement of national development priorities and challenges.

3.  Ensuring policy clarity and certainty, with consistency and flexibility as required. For example, the role of the state in the economy, particular strategic economic and industrial sectors and the party’s position on the National Development Plan as the blueprint for the country and the economy.

ETHICORE will be closely monitoring, analyzing and reporting on the outcomes and implications of the conference, throughout its duration and on a customized basis for clients thereafter. This includes political and risk analysis, briefing papers and research reports. For more information and enquiries in this regard, kindly do not hesitate to contact us.

Abdul Waheed Patel is Managing Director at ETHICORE Political Consulting. He specialises in policy consulting, analysis and risk, including South African political parties, post-apartheid democratic politics and parliamentary democracy.