Gauteng ANC accepts Zuma’s apology

The highly-anticipated Gauteng ANC’s Provincial General Council (PGC) meeting ended over the weekend with a pronouncement that reaffirmed other provinces’ acceptance of President Jacob Zuma’s apology to the nation for the Nkandla debacle.

In the presence of Zuma, the provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile said they accepted his apology and were not against him. He added that the province’s leadership always dealt with issues on the basis of principle.

“Our strength in Gauteng is that we discuss issues openly, in a frank and open manner, confront difficult issues without fear or favour, and when difficult matters come to the fore, we do not bury our heads in the sand but confront them head on,” he said.

“This constitutes the distinguishing features of our province.”

He added that the province also allowed branches to express their own views to ensure members had no hidden agendas as part of their guidance and commitment to serving the people. This, he said, reflected their commitment and respect for the Constitution and all laws which the party crafted and would defend as they embodied the Freedom Charter. Mashatile urged other provinces to desist dictating to others as none had the authority to tell another province what decisions to take on organisational matters.

Mashatile said the party was ready for the local government elections which would be preceded by the party’s election manifesto launch on June 4 at the FNB stadium and door-to-door campaigns.

The PGC’s resolutions commended the party’s election readiness and said it would be premised on its record on housing, roads, health care, and education and economic transformation, among other successful programmes and projects.

Zuma called for unity within the party, saying complete freedom and the success of the country depended on a united South Africa. He urged party members to rather discuss how the country should move forward leading to the elections.