THE ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) wants the government to move with speed to deliver services to people.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told a media briefing at Luthuli House in Joburg on Wednesday, 18 October, that since he took over in December 2022, the ruling party’s agenda was service delivery.
“Even if I have to quarrel with the president, as the SG, I'll say that here we are not doing well. The centre must hold. We are not micromanaging the government. Our agenda has changed. It's about service delivery,” he said.
He said the committee was not happy with the ever-increasing living costs and called on the state to be attentive and find sustainable ways to ease the burden of high living costs for all citizens.
“The NEC also observed that despite the prices of basic food decreasing globally, the South African market didn't lower its prices to the prejudice of poor consumers,” said Mbalula.
He claimed that the appointment of a dedicated minister of electricity was beginning to pay dividends as load shedding was beginning to ease.
Mbalula pointed out that the problem of vandalism and theft of transformers in areas such as Soweto and Sedibeng resulted in blackouts affecting thousands of households over several years.
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“The NEC received various interventions from Eskom and the Gauteng Provincial Government to replace those transformers and re-energise township households and businesses. The ANC further called on Eskom and the Gauteng Provincial Government to align their efforts at replacing the stolen and vandalised transformers,” he said.
Mbalula denied that there was a water crisis in Mzansi.
”We're encouraged by the positive developments of progress made in as far as water provision is concerned, and can confirm that South Africa is not faced with any imminent crisis in so far as the provision of safe, drinking water is concerned,” he said.
Mbalula said the NEC was satisfied with the steps taken by the security cluster in tackling the zama zamas.
He said the government needs a plan to deal with spaza shops run by foreigners.
Mbalula admitted the matter didn’t get a detailed account at the NEC meeting held from 14 to 16 October.
“If we don’t act, people will take the law in their own hands and close them,” said Mbalula.
On the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, he said the ANC stood with Palestine.
“What is happening against the Palestinian people is evil,” said Mbalula.
