Leaks from NEC meetings ‘contribute to new and highly destructive tendencies’ – ANC report reveals

The ANC has criticised the leaking of information from its national executive committee (NEC) online meetings, saying that undermined the trust and work of the governing party’s highest decision-making body in between national conferences.

ANC elective conference 2022

The revelation was published in the party’s Organisational Report presented by Deputy President David Mabuza during the plenary’s closed session on Saturday.

With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the governing party’s NEC started holding virtual meetings. Previously, NEC members were not allowed to bring electronics such as cell phones into NEC meetings in an effort to prevent the leaking of information.

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However, with the new format, the past two years’ meetings have been marred by the leaking of minutes and even recordings of the meetings.

“Whilst leaks from NEC meetings are not unique to virtual platforms, this did contribute to new and highly destructive tendencies such as the making of and leaking of recordings of the meetings.

“This has undermined the trust and impeded the organisational efficacy of the NEC and the willingness and willingness of members to engage openly on sensitive strategic matters,” read the 100-page report.

ANC internal divisions

It painted a picture of a capable NEC whose work was affected by internal party infighting and divisions. The report highlighted “the many divisions that characterised processes” leading to the Nasrec conference.

“This was particularly evident as the NEC sought to implement the mandate of the 54th (2017) national conference in relation to fighting corruption, state capture and pursuing the renewal of the organisation.”

Regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC unity project, the report noted that although “significant progress has been made,” more work remained outstanding.

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