Zuma blames critics within ANC for economic turmoil

Cape Town – Irresponsible and perpetual negative messages from people within the ranks of the ANC are having a negative impact on South Africa’s economy, said President Jacob Zuma on Friday.

Delivering the opening address at the ruling party’s fifth national policy conference in Johannesburg in preparation for its national elective conference in December this year, Zuma slammed members and leaders of the ANC who have become “primary conveyors of negative information about their own movement”.

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“We need to be able to differentiate between self-criticism and the furtherance of certain interests and agendas,” Zuma said, adding that there needs to be a balance between self-criticism, protecting the ANC and providing the space to resolve problems in an organised manner. 

In his speech, Zuma touched among other things on the economy, allegations of state capture, organisational renewal and radical economic transformation.

‘Economically’ a difficult period

The President acknowledged that the ANC’s policy conference is taking place during a “difficult period economically” in the country.

“The economy has entered into a technical recession. At the time of the Budget in February,” Zuma said, “the economy was expected to grow at a low 1.3% in 2017. Even this low growth rate may now not be achieved”.

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He also referred to the ANC’s declining support in the 2016 local government elections and said in addition to the weak capacity of the state and internal organisational problems that are plaguing the ANC, the unfavourable economic climate has also put a strain on the ANC-led government’s ability to create jobs.

This, he said, causes frustration.

What exactly is state capture?

Zuma also briefly mentioned state capture. “There is also talk in the country currently about the capture of the state or government in the main, by business interests.”

The ANC supports a judicial commission of inquiry into the matter, but he called for a better analysis so that there can be a better understanding of what is meant by state capture.

“We need to know what business interests have sought to influence the ANC and its government over the years, with what impact and what must be done to end the said state capture.”

Organisational renewal

Zuma said the fact that the ANC is in power and has access to state power and resources has led to “perceptions and allegations” that the ruling party is a corrupt organisation.

“The failure to respond adequately and timeously to allegations and the length of time that it takes for investigations to be concluded cause immense damage to the image of government and the ANC.”

Radical economic transformation

At its last conference in Mangaung in 2012, the ANC resolved to pursue more radical policies and decisive action to achieve socio-economic and continued democratic transformation, Zuma said.

In January this year, the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) agreed to define this pursuit of “radical socio-economic transformation” which will entail a fundamental change in the structure, systems, institutions and patterns of ownership and control of the economy.

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Zuma said the ANC at its conference will discuss a number of interventions needed to advance radical economic transformation. Some of the measures must include accelerated land redistribution and land reform.

“Land in particular remains one of the most contentious and emotive issues in our society. The pace of land restoration and redistribution remains a sore point for millions of our people who were shunted to a small portion, often of the lowest quality, of land and even denied the right to purchase land in areas that were reserved for a minority of citizens.”

Zuma said it is possible to find radical solutions to land hunger within the ambit of the law and the Constitution.