In the second part of a series of articles that aims to inform undecided and new voters, the African National Congress (ANC) comes under the magnifying glass.
The ANC is the oldest of the parties with candidates in this year’s election. It was formed in 1912 when Pixley ka Isaka Seme called on Africans to forget the differences and declared that, “We are one people. These divisions, these jealousies, are the cause of all our woes today.”
The ANC was known as a liberation or struggle organisation through its years as a banned organisation under the apartheid regime and by means of its military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (The Spear of the Nation) took up arms against the South African Government in 1961.
In 1990 the organisation was unbanned and in 1994 it won the first democratic elections in South Africa by a 62 per cent majority.
The ANC has been in power for the past 20 years.
According to their manifesto for the 2014 elections the party with its slogan “Together we move South Africa forward” will address the following issues.
• Build an inclusive economy that creates jobs
• Transform rural areas
• Ensure decent living conditions and sustainable human settlements
• Improve and expand education and training
• Ensure quality health care for all
• Fight corruption and crime
• Build a united nation and promote social cohesion
For the full article read next week’s edition of the Record.
