The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) said on Friday that it is inspired and has been galvanised into action following recent engagements with former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.

Last week the newly elected provincial leadership, led by ANC chairperson Siboniso Duma and his deputy Nomagugu Simelane, visited Zuma at his Nkandla homestead.

Addressing the media in Durban to report on the recent PEC meeting, ANC KZN secretary Bheki Mtolo said that if Zuma and Mbeki’s contributions and wisdom were not acknowledged then the commitment to unite the ANC would remain a pipedream.

He said, in its meeting, the KZN ANC PEC committed to revive the organisation and unite members and supporters in a manner that would strengthen the ANC.  

Mtolo said the party would "spread the light of unity, and respect for all our leaders for their contributions that brought us freedom and democracy”.

On the issue of social compacts with businesses, emerging entrepreneurs and labour, the PEC engaged on strategies required to sustain economic recovery for the benefit of the people in the province. 

The ANC met with captains of industry under the auspices of the KZN Growth Coalition, and has undertaken to sustain engagements with all structures representing cooperatives, small, medium-sized and microenterprises, emerging entrepreneurs and business chambers. 

Central to the organisation’s economic strategy is a new social compact involving all role-players, such as business, labour, community and the ANC government, for radical economic transformation.

“We remain committed towards ensuring economic empowerment of women, youth, persons with disabilities and MKMVA. Economic opportunities must be accessed by people in townships, villages and rural areas,” Mtolo said.

The PEC has also resolved to support Zuma moving forward, by ensuring visibility in all his court appearances.

“We are calling upon the ANC government to ensure that President Zuma is supported like all former Presidents. His residence must also be maintained as is the case with residences of former Heads of State,” said Mtolo.

On the issue of the Ingonyama Trust which has been receiving media attention, the PEC will consult with the Zulu King MisuZulu ka Zwelithini.

THE PEC says the ANC remains firm in its support of the King and the organisation and added that the party has not changed from its position that indigenous people have a right to access the land.

Reporting on the party’s election campaign team, Mtolo said the leadership had identified the need to revive all branches not in good standing and increase membership.

“There are many seasoned activists who are inactive. The ANC will bring them back to strengthen the ANC. We will focus on all the young people - children of a free South Africa who were born when Madiba was President. We want them to come in, grow in the ANC and inherit their movement,” he added.

As the ANC prepares for the 2024 provincial and national elections, the PEC hopes to retain support for the ANC as the leading party of government.  

To achieve that, it has established an ANC election campaign team, dedicated to planning and executing campaigns.

As part of this campaign, all ANC leaders, volunteers and public representatives will be on the ground to explain the party’s policies and programmes at grassroots level, while branches will go out to mobilise support for the ANC.

The PEC also appointed Mafika Mndebele as the new spokesperson of the ANC in the province.

Mndebele is expected to lead all communication efforts aimed at bridging the gap between the ANC in the province and the media.