RESOLUTIONS OF THE 49TH ANC NATIONAL CONFERENCE - BLOEMFONTEIN DECEMBER 1994
ON STRATEGY AND TACTICS
Noting:
- That the April 1994 victory marks a breakthrough into the phase of national democratic revolution.
- That the national democratic revolution is essentially about the transfer of power to the people.
- That it is important to understand this transfer as a process, and not as an event or a moment.
- That it is also important to understand that power is located in many parts of society.
- That the transfer of power to the people means the simultaneous transformation, or democratisation of power. We are not simply transferring unchanged power structures, institutions and attitudes from one elite to another.
Affirms:
That while the ANC is serving in a Government of National Unity, and
that this framework imposes some constraints, it is imperative that the
ANC assumes full responsibility for its overwhelming election victory and
mandate, and that as a movement we drive forward the process of transformation
from our new positions in government.
And commits itself to the following core strategic perspectives:
- That the key strategic objective of our struggle remains the building of a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist society as envisaged in the Freedom Charter. Each of these aspects is profoundly interlinked, and they are all part of the central objective of a thorough-going democratisation of our country.
- That the main content of this phase remains the all-round political, economic and social emancipation of the historically oppressed majority of our country. This majority continues to be characterised as the black majority, and the African people in particular.
- Owing to its strategic location and capacity, the main social motive force for transformation is the working class. We reassert our historic bias to this class, and to the rural poor, while being a broad movement and home for all historically oppressed strata, all democratic forces and many new potential forces.
- The ANC's crucial role as a ruling party needs to be carried through effectively and professionally. This role should reinforce, not undermine, the ANC's continuing role as a broad movement with effective grass-roots structures, capable of organising and mobilising the broad mass of our people.
ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY
Transformation of the State Machinery
I. GENERAL:
- This Conference of the ANC, noting that: 1.1. democratic forces in our country have attained crucial elements of political power, including formal control over the state machinery;
1.2. the state machinery needs to be transformed into a representative, efficient and loyal instrument of democracy;
1.3. provisions of the interim constitution limit the extent and pace of such transformation, and that this constitution also contains provisions such as affirmative action and representativity which provide some possibilities;
The Conference therefore resolves:
II. CIVIL SERVICE:
- Legislative Mechanisms: 2.1. The process of drafting the White paper on transformation of the civil service should be expedited, so that it is presented to the first session of parliament early next year;
- Executive Actions: 3.1. The comprehensive programme to rationalise the civil service, narrow the wage gap and ensure gender equality should be implemented without equivocation; and in such a way as to correct the skewed deployment of the civil service and not deprive communities of needed services;
- Structures: 4.1. The Public Service Forum should involve government, civil servants and representatives of the public and also deal with communities' interests;
- the PSC is itself transformed to become representative, and its function should be to act as an ombuds;
- the Ministry, with a proper department, should take charge of political and administrative functions.
- 5. Organisational Structures and Tasks: 5.1. The ANC should co-ordinate work and policy formulation on this matter through a public service unit in the SGO, as well as a broader forum involving structures within and outside government;
2.2. The NEC should, as a matter of urgency, examine the necessity or otherwise of amending the interim constitution with a view to enabling the government to implement its policies on the civil service.
3.2. Mechanisms ensuring representativity and efficiency should include objective performance evaluation, redeployment as well as retrenchment packages and early retirement;
3.3. A systematic programme with time-frames should be put in place, to ensure, through affirmative action, that the civil service reflects the make up of South African society, particularly by accelerating the employment of Africans, Coloureds, Indians, women and others previously excluded, especially from management echelons, because of apartheid;
3.4. Recruitment and selection procedures should also be informed by the fact that competent South Africans acquired their work experience outside the apartheid state;
3.5. All Ministers should make the appointments regarding 11,000 posts by the end of February.
4.2. The bargaining chamber between government and the civil service should not be used as a forum to negotiate implementation of the RDP;
4.3. The government should immediately review the mandate of the bureaucracy of the Public Service Commission and ensure that:
5.2. The ANC should encourage unity among unions representing the genuine interests of public servants - unions run and controlled by workers themselves, and not management.
III. JUDICIARY:
6. Noting the proposals to transform the judiciary from the ministry
of justice, as well as the resistance from various quarters, the Conference
urges the minister to act with decisiveness and speed as well as on the
basis of broad consultation.
7. This should include the following:
7.1. The establishment of an independent and representative prosecuting
authority, including the possibility of setting up a central office of
the attorney-general;
7.2. Investigation of the need or otherwise of Offices of State Attorneys,
and if they are retained, that they be comprehensively restructured;
7.3. The restructuring of courts should also take on board issues of
community courts, traditional courts and mechanisms to ensure accessibility.
IV. MEDIA:
8. This Conference noting:
8.1. that the structure of ownership of media, management and other
socio-economic problems do not allow for a free flow of information and
comment within society;
8.2. that the government as well as the ANC have a responsibility to
ensure that people are informed on developments within the country and
abroad;
9. Therefore resolves that the incoming NEC investigates and adopts
broad policy positions on the transformation of the South African Communications
Services; on the place, role and size of the public broadcaster and other
matters being investigated by the Independent Broadcasting Authority; the
role of Provinces in respect of public media; as well as the approach towards
diversifying ownership and control of the media. These policies should
help guide the relevant ministries as well as our parliamentary representatives.
Transformation of the Economy
Noting
1. That transformation of the South African economy is a fundamental
component of the transformation of our country to achieve non-sexism, democracy,
non-racialism, development and equity.
2. That the economic legacy of apartheid featured levels of inequality,
unemployment, economic disempowerment of the majority, and the concentration
of ownership by the large conglomerates.
Resolved
1. That relevant economic policy sections from Ready to Govern (May
1992), the Reconstruction and Development Programme (January 1994), and
the Health Plan (on a National Health Insurance Scheme) be reaffirmed.
2.1. To endorse the six-point programme as part of the process of establishing
a new approach in government, namely:
* belt-tightening and cost saving * reprioritization, both within and
between departments and ministries * restructuring of the civil service
to achieve representivity and efficiency, * review and restructuring of
state assets * addressing the relations between national, provincial and
local government, * and monitoring implementation and capacity.
2.2. To endorse the broad thrust of fiscal discipline and management,
along with monetary stability, and that a strategic management plan, for
national, provincial and local levels, be formulated and implemented.
2.3. That all levels of ANC structures assist in a Budget reprioritization
in terms of RDP priorities as an imperative.
2.4. That a comprehensive review of the Security sector, including Defence
and Denel, be undertaken.
3.To endorse current work on a national health insurance scheme.
4.1. That a special task team be set up to facilitate job creation,
which must be within a national industrial strategic framework that operates
at a national, provincial and local level.
4.2. To endorse the national public works programme, and the emphasis
on labour-based construction methods.
5.1. To endorse existing policy with regard to expanding or reducing
the public sector. Government will consult with labour and NEDLAC prior
to further action. Clear guidelines and mechanisms must be elaborated to
ensure insider trading is illegal and this should include rules to prevent
corruption and bind ministers, civil servants, MECs and parliamentarians.
5.2. To proceed with urgency the transformation of key state institutions
in the economy as set out in policy documents. 6.1. To develop a special
programme to address women's empowerment in the economy, including ensuring
access of women to finance, training and support services.
6.2. To provide finance and support mechanisms for economic development
in rural areas.
6.3. That Black economic empowerment is central to reconstruction and
development, and should be aimed at empowering communities rather than
being directed at a limited number of individuals.
6.4. That government undertake a comprehensive review of the tender
system and the legal framework under which it operates to assist in bringing
on board small contractors.
7.1. That a comprehensive policy on direct investment should be developed,
including foreign investment.
7.2. That a human resource development programme, particularly training,
should be elaborated to facilitate job creation and an investment-friendly
environment.
8.1. To endorse the establishment of an ANC Economic Commission comprising
ministers and deputy ministers, MECs for Economic Affairs, constitutional
structures of the ANC at provincial level, and appropriate standing committees.
This Commission should establish formal mechanisms of interface with Cosatu,
the SACP and other components of the broad Alliance.
8.2. The Commission endorsed the role of branches in steering the process
of economic development at the local level, and the communication of economic
issues to the relevant ministries and provinces.
Stabilising the Country and Transforming the Security Services
Basis of Stability
Noting:
1. that the major cause of instability in the country remains inequity,
poverty and deprivation and that therefor the foundation for stabilising
South Africa must be based on a security doctrine which moves away from
a narrow militaristic approach and which addresses the political, economic,
social , cultural and stability needs of our people. The basis of a new
stability doctrine is the concept that stability is based on democracy,
peace, development and equality and social justice.
2. Therefore the basis of our stability doctrine is the RDP and other
socio-economic programmes which will uplift the quality of life of all
South Africans.
3. Furthermore this new security doctrine needs also to be conceived
within a broader regional stability perspective which notes the inter-dependence
of the countries of the region and which focuses on the need to see the
development of democracy, peace and economic development throughout the
region, for real stability in South Africa can not last long if the region
is unstable.
Resolves that the following immediate measures be taken:
1. The ANC and government should support and effect the creation of
gun free South Africa. A comprehensive strategy involving all the organs
of the state is required to turn South Africa into a gun free society.
This comprehensive, holistic and community based approach to arms control
should include amongst other things the following: * Regular audit of arms
and legal arsenals (arsenals of the state and parastatals, etc.) by an
independent and empowered authority. Additionally, Armscor should be restructured,
made transparent in its operations, made fully accountable and brought
under stricter control.
* The calling of a Southern African regional Summit on arms control
and security in the region.
* The tasking of all the intelligence services (military, police and
civilian services) with uncovering illegal arsenals, tracking arms smuggling,
uncovering illegal weapons syndicates and uncovering political corruption
linked to arms proliferation.
* Reviewing licensing procedures and revoking, as far as possible, licences
for automatic weapons for individuals and tightening legislation related
to the possession and carrying of weapons in public. In particular legislation
should be introduced to force the disbanding of private armies.
2. That all organs of state should work out a comprehensive strategy
for exposure of the workings and existence of Third Force and covert operations
before the Truth Commission and other commissions set up in this regard.
Incentives, both positive and negative, should be introduced to encourage
full disclosure of covert operations. Exposed covert structures should
then be dismantled, dissolved or restructured into legal services.
3. That the privatisation of safety and security functions, particularly
at the ports and airports should cease.
4. That criminals should be charged and judged speedily and access to
bail of hard criminals, murderers should be reviewed in order that further
crimes are not committed.
5. That in order to end the era in which political problems and differences
were resolved through violence in some areas the ANC and government should
support a comprehensive strategy to stop politically motivated violence.
The measures to stop this violence would need to be multi-pronged including
peace programmes, effective policing actions and a coordinated intelligence
focus.
6. The government should urgently give attention to the working conditions
of oour police service.
COMMUNITY POLICING FORUMS
Noting:
1. The increase of crime in our country and the need to combat crime
in our society.
2. The essential need to involve the community in the process of policing
and the positive moves undertaken by the Ministry of Safety and Security
to base policing on the principle of community policing.
3. The tendency of the police in some areas to frustrate the involvement
of communities in the policing forums.
We resolve that:
1. The ANC should support the immediate establishment of community policy
forums that are representative and inclusive and which operate with clear
guidelines.
2. The ANC should call upon the Ministry of Safety and Security to provide
communities with the resources necessary for community structures to play
their rightful role in these forums. 3.The ANC should convene a special
workshop, involving all parties of the tripartite alliance, before the
end of February 1995, to work out clear role of community policing forums.
4. The ANC should urge the Ministry of Safety and Security to speed
up the integration of all police services.
5. ANC structures should encourage youth, particularly from black communities,
to enroll in the security forces.
RESTRUCTURING THE SANDF
Noting:
The progress made in the military integration process so far and the
need to further transform the defence force to serve the interests of democracy.
Resolves:
That the NEC of the ANC should call upon the government to:
1. Urgently prepare concept legislation aimed at democratising the defence
act and military disciplinary code so that it is in line with our interim
constitution and practices in democratic societies the world over, and
a civilian ministry of defence.
2. Consider legislative measures for the establishment of the service
corp/brigade - this important arm of the RDP in the military sphere.
3. Consider legislation to give effect to section 189 of the interim
constitution dealing with pensions as one part of a process of honouring
heros and heroines of the struggle.
Further Conference:
* calls upon all former MK cadres to adhere to the necessary standards
of discipline; * calls upon all structures involved in the integration
process to constantly monitor and attend to the needs of the soldiers;
* calls upon the Ministry and the Parliamentary Standing Committee to closely
monitor and oversee all the stages of integration; * recommends that Parliament
speedily enacts legislation to meet the needs of veterans; * supports the
concept of demobilisation payouts to those members on the certified personnel
register who no longer wish to serve in the SANDF.
Constitution-making process
Noting
1. Our objective of a fully democratic South Africa based on majority
rule must be achieved by drafting of a new constitution
Believing
That democrtaic majority rule based on a constitution without fetters
on our ability to transform South Africa politically, economically and
socially and rid South Africa of the legacy of apartheid.
Therefore resolves that
1. the ANC must win a truly democratic constitution which empowers people,
brings majority rule and protects human rights.
2. the ANC shall use as its guidelines in the constitutional assembly
the preliminary list of principle contained in the report of the commission;
which shall first be ratified by the NEC and also confirmed at the Constitutional
policy conference in March 1995.
3. the constitutional commission shall organise;
(a) a constitutional conference no later than march 1995.
(b) a conference of all democratic organisations not later than April
1995 at which the constitutional proposals of the Anc are discussed.
4. The ANC should ensure that the interpretation of concurrency of powers
and allocation of powers to various levels of government is considered
with our concept of strong central government and the building of a single
nation.
5. The incoming NEC must immediately establish the structure suggested
in the report of the commission, to enable ANC members to participate in
the constitution-making process.
ON PROGRAMME OF ACTION
BUILDING THE ANC
Having noted the Secretary General's Report on State of Organisation
and having examined in depth and critically the strengths and weakness
of the movement the conference resolves:
ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE UNITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC FORCES LED BY THE
ANC
Conference calls for the urgent establishment of a Special Committee
to:
i) Investigate and address the consolidation of unity within ANC Branches,
Regions and Provinces and with ANC Youth League and ANC Women's League;
ii) To strengthen the relations between ANC, SACP, COSATU, SANCO and
all other MDM forces;
iii) Assist in the restructuring of the ANC into new Provincial and
Regional structures to avoid transfer of old problems to new structures;
The Committee to report to the NEC for vigorous action.
ON THE TRIPARTITE ALLIANCE
The NEC to convene an urgent workshop at the highest level with ANC,
SACP, COSATU, SANCO and CONTRALESA to address apparent conflicts and lay
the basis for a unified campaign for local government elections. The workshop
to also define the relationship brought forward by the new situation.
ON CADRE DEVELOPMENT
Conference noting numerous resolutions on cadre development in the past
resolves to embark on urgent measures to establish a Political Education
Centre at national and provincial levels to provide overall political development
and capacity building for our membership.
ON ANC BRANCHES
i) Conference resolves to make ANC branches centres of activity at a
local level. Branches should provide all round leadership to the community
to which they are situated. They should enjoy high visibility and at least
40% of the resources should be spent on establishing and maintaining branch
structures.
ii) NEC must introduce staggered membership fee to cater for the unemployed
and pensioners.
iii) All members of the ANC must subscribe to a Code of Conduct to be
prepared and approved by the NEC as a matter of urgency.
ON THE ANC CONSTITUTION
The NEC should establish a special commission to review the Constitution
of the ANC in a comprehensive manner so as to ensure that it reflects the
needs of the movement in a post-apartheid South Africa. Such a Commission
should be set up as soon as possible.
ON THE VETERANS' LEAGUE
The NEC should investigate the possibility of creating a Veterans League.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND ANC STRUCTURES.
The NEC should ensure that elected representatives establish a dynamic
relationship with ANC structures as well as constituencies which will ensure
coordination and the free flow of information.
HEROES' ACRE
A fund-raising drive should be embarked upon to establish a Heroes'
Acre to honour all the fallen comrades.
ON RESTRUCTURING
The Secretary General should convene an Inter-Provincial Summit to look
at guidelines for the establishment of new Provincial, Regional and Branch
structures as well as to develop a Programme of Action.
DEPLOYMENT OF MP'S AND MPL'S
The NEC must monitor the deployment and performance of MPs and MPLs
to ensure that MPs and MPLs perform their duties in the constituencies
they have been deployed in and help in building ANC structures and hold
regular report-back meetings.
MOBILISING RESOURCES
It must be the responsibility of all ANC members and structures to mobilise
financial resources for the ANC.
The National Finance Committee must immediately draw practical fund
raising strategies that can be applied at all levels of the organisation.
The idea of raising funds through an insurance linked mechanism should
be examined.
PEOPLE'S FORUMS
The ANC should continue with People's Forums.
IMPLEMENTING THE RDP
RDP Councils, where the alliance and SANCO participate, should be set
up at local level and workshops on the RDP should be held to empower branches.
Branches must participate in the implementation of the RDP and especially
the President's Programmes.
The RDP policy document 4must be translated into all languages.
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS
Branches should be trained on how Government functions at all levels
so that they can be fully empowered to be of service to our people effectively.
FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
We must ensure that there is free political activity on farms, mine
hostels and all former homeland areas. Legislation should be considered
if the farms and mine owners remain intransigent.
ORGANISING ACTIVITIES
In order to build organisation effectively the organising activities
and programmes of the ANC, Women's League and Youth League should be integrated
at all levels.
CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN PARLIAMENTARY AND PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES AND
CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES
Mechanisms for effective co-ordination between all caucuses and our
Constitutional Structures must be established.
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
There should be an effective staff development programme to empower
our staff to play their role in helping to build the ANC.
ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Recognising that the establishment of transitional councils throughout
South Africa forms a temporary bridge between apartheid and democratic
local government throughout South Africa;
Resolves that, in order to develop effective local government, all Provincial
Executive Committees must coordinate an evaluation of each transitional
council in their province in terms of the negotiations process, the selection
of nominated councillors and the way in which the transitional structures
are operating.
ON TRADITIONAL LEADERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Recognising the way in which colonialism and apartheid have fashioned
traditional leadership to serve party political purpose.
Noting that traditional leaders must
(i) be above partisan party politics;
(ii) involve themselves in a drive for peace and development; and
(iii) serve their whole communities.
Resolves:
(i) to ensure that traditional authority system operate in a symbiotic
way with local government;
(ii) to request government to centralise the payment of traditional
leaders to free them from the control of political parties;
(iii) that in accordance with the constitutional provision for democracy
and non-sexism, a political programme of action to educate and inform traditional
leaders of their rights, duties and responsibilities be embarked upon;
(iv) to request government to establish a Commission which will investigate
and make recommendations on restoring traditional leadership to hereditary
leaders.
ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICY
Recognising the need to establish democratic, non-racial and non- sexist
local government throughout South Africa,
Resolves:
(i) that local government structures be established wall-to-wall throughout
the country;
(ii) that local government shall be established on a two-tier basis
in metropolitan areas (with substructures) and non- metropolitan areas
(with local councils established on an integrated and functional basis);
(iii) that the distribution of powers, functions and administrations
at each tier be democratically determined.
ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Recognising that the first non-racial municipal elections to be held
by mid-October 1995 are a continuation of the liberation struggle led by
the ANC alliance;
Resolves to instruct the incoming NEC to give effect to the ANC's election
programme of action and structures (of government and the ANC). This must
include calling a national strategy workshop by February 1995.
ON LOCAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION
Recognising that local government is the arms and legs of our RDP;
Resolves that:
(i) all local governments establish RDP offices and RDP standing committees
in their councils;
(ii) the integrated campaign for socio-economic transformation to be
launched by government early in February be wholeheartedly supported.
LAND AND AGRICULTURE
This Conference noting:
1. The strategic importance of agriculture with regard to household
food security and its vital contribution to the economy;
2. That restitution must be accompanied by an effective programme of
redistribution.
Resolves:
1. That the political profile and strategic importance of land and agricultural
issues must be raised continuously by the ANC leadership.
2. That the ANC must further develop and implement our land and agricultural
policies and place these within the broader context of a comprehensive
rural development strategy that directs our country's limited resources
towards addressing the needs of the poor.
3. That all institutions, including traditional institutions, must be
reorientated so that women have equal access to land and agricultural resources.
4. That the furtherance of ANC policies on land and agriculture are
taken forward nationally through:
* a strategic planning session of ANC premiers and provincial chairpersons
to ensure a coherent, national approach and to ensure that the majority
interests are advanced;
* the establishment of agricultural committees of the ANC at various
levels;
* the convening of a national consultative summit which uses the ANC
Agriculture Policy document as its point of departure.
5. That at all levels of government, interdepartmental structures be
established which will ensure integrated rural development and effective
communication both in and outside of government.
6. That the State needs to play a central role in identifying and acquiring
land which is strategically located to meet the pressing needs of the landless
and homeless and must provide national guidelines on the allocation of
communal land which are transparent, involve effective community and individual
participation and reflect the new democratic context.
7. That the State resources for agriculture must be reorientated to
meet the needs of the poorest. This includes budgetary reallocations; appropriate
allocation of state bursaries to those who were formerly disadvantaged.
the reprioritisation of agricultural research; the restructuring of departmental
media which takes into account the language issue; and the reorientation
of departmental employees.
8. Steps must be taken by government to stop all unfair evictions, particularlt
those of farmworkers, including the passing of legislation if necessary.
EDUCATION
Noting:
1. that the deep rooted race, class, gender and ethnic inequalities
which exist in education is as a result of centuries of colonialism and
apartheid and manifested in the gross under- resourcing of African education
in particular;
2. while there can be no effective implementation of the RDP without
a thorough and radical transformation of education, there is an absence
of the culture of learning and teaching in some of our schools.
And believing that:
transformation can only be driven and achieved by the masses of our
people organised in their various democratic formations and enriched by
their experiences of struggle against apartheid education.
THIS CONFERENCE OF THE ANC THEREFORE RESOLVES THAT:
1) the ANC, its allies and the broad democratic movement commits itself
to launching the campaign called MOBILISATION FOR A LEARNING NATION in
order to mobilise our people for the transformation of education at all
levels;
2) the priority of such a campaign within the next two months will be
to ensure:
i) that parents, teachers, students and provincial education departments
cooperate to ensure that registration for 1995 is completed within the
shortest possible time so that the process of learning starts immediately;
ii) that government ensures the delivery of the necessary resources
with the absolute minimum delay; and
iii) the setting up of democratic structures of governance at all levels
of education.
iv) provincial structures of the ANC should develop actions plans in
conjunction with the broad democratic movement (MDM), teachers, students,
workers, parents, churches, etc. to ensure coordination and sustainability
of the campaign and an ongoing process of school based reconstruction,
development and qualitative transformation of education.
v) that the incoming NEC takes the necessary steps to ensure that the
campaign is implemented nationally and in all the provinces by the first
week of January 1995.
ON THE EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN
Noting:
* that while the constitution guarantees fundamntal rights to all ciizens
including women, the structured oppression of women on our society places
pbstacles to wmoen exercising their rights;
* that the rights to equality and dignity are cnstantly violated in
the provacy of homes and family lives
Believing:
that while there are positive aspects in our culture and traditions
which need to be preserved, ther are also negative aspects that deny equality
and infringe the dignity of women
Therefore resolves that:
* the president msut appoint a Cabinet committee chaged with furthering
the amnaciation of women and ensuring that all Minstries and departments
integrate this objective into all their policies amd programmes, amnd monitoring
the process including the implementation of the RDP
* that the ANC in government should ensure the immeduate ratification
of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW);
* that the ANC must establish a Commission, which involves structures
in the rural areas, which will identify and propose mechanisms to address
cultural practices that are oppressive to women. This Commission must report
to the NEC within six months;
* that all provinces embark on a strategy to ensure the constitutional
rights of rural women and domestic workers in particular and their rights
to free political activity and labour rights are ensured.
* the NEC must continually monitor the participation of women at all
levels of government.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
Noting
1. The youth, who comprise a significant portion of our society, have
been severely disadvantaged by the system of apartheid. As a result many
young people face a bleak and hopeless future with little prospects of
securing meaningful employment or overcoming a phletora of social and economic
difficulties they have to contend with.
2. The youth sector includes students, unemployed, young women, youth
in rural and urban areas, the disabled and black and white youth.
Believing:
1. That the ANC recognizes the youth as the future of the country and
acknowledge the role it has played in the struggle against apartheid. This
place a responsibility on the movement to ensure the full development and
empowerment of youth, in the organisation and in society.
2. The Government of National Unity should see youth development as
an important part of its human resource strategy and youth empowerment
as an essential part of the transformation of our society.
Recognising
3. the role of the ANC Youth League in championing the interests of
youth,in the ANC and in the broader society.
Therefore resolves
On the National Youth Policy
1. to commit ourselves to a process with the Youth League and the ANC
Policy Division to develop and eventually adopt a comprehensive Youth Policy
document;
2. take such steps necessary to ensure the adoption of such a Youth
Policy by the Government of National Unity;
3.The Youth Policy should clearly set out concrete programmes to address
the problems of youth, with specific emphasis on job creation and entrepreneurhip,
a national youth service programme, education and training especially aimed
at out-of-school youth; and programmes aimed at addressing social issues
such as substance abuse, AIDS, abuse, teenage parenthood and crime and
delinquency.
Institutions
To implement the Youth Policy, we must ensure that we put in place the
following institutions at national, provincial and local levels:
1. A Ministry of Youth Affairs or an appropriate executive structure
in the Office of the President to ensure that this receives priority attention
of the GNU.
2. A broad based Youth Commission to lobby and advise the legislature
and executive on youth matters.
3. A National Youth Council as the voice of youth in civil society.
ON CUBA
Noting that:
1. The United States has maintained a blockade against the Republic
of Cuba for the past 35 years;
2. The blockade is a gross violation of the right of the Cuban people
to choose their own social system;
3. In the United Nations General Assembly this year, South Africa voted
in favour of resolutions calling for the lifting of the blockade against
Cuba and against a United States sponsored resolution condemning alleged
human rights violations in Cuba.
4. The outstanding and steadfast support of the Cuban people in the
struggle against apartheid; and
Believing that
The blockade is wholly unjustified and tantamounts to an act of war,
Therefore resolves:
1. To reaffirm our call for the lifting of the blockade against Cuba
and to support appropriate campaigns in this regard;
2. To educate our people about the unjust nature of this blockade;
3. To intensify our solidarity with the people of Cuba.
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