Johannesburg – The African National Congress 55th Conference on Friday began on a rather embarrassing note for President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose address was disrupted by the entrance of former president Jacob Zuma accompanied by singing supporters.
The disruption continued for some time with Ramaphosa struggling to be heard over the banging of desks and singing of pro-Zuma songs.
Some of the delegates countered with songs hailing Ramaphosa.
However, the din was eventually brought under control and Ramaphosa was able to speak uninterrupted.
Apart from Zuma, present in the gathering at Nasrec conference centre were former president Thabo Mbeki, former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, ambassadors, foreign guests, and other dignitaries.
Opening his address, Ramaphosa extended a “very warm word of welcome to all delegates present here as well as our observers and guests”.
He added: “A special word of welcome to representatives of fellow liberation movements and sister parties who honour us through their presence here, thus demonstrating their solidarity and friendship.
“This opening session of the 55th National Conference is taking place on a day that occupies a special place in the hearts and minds of our people.
“It was on this day 61 years ago that Umkhonto we Sizwe, the peoples army, was formed, marking a new era in the struggle for liberation.”
Ramaphosa also made mention of anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani, whose killer Janusz Walu? has been released from prison on parole after serving about 25 years of his life sentence.
“We cannot observe this day without paying tribute to the memory of the Chief of Staff of MK [Umkhonto we Sizwe], Cde Chris Hani, and express our deep sadness and disappointment that his killer has been released on parole.
“Our thoughts are with comrade Chris Hanis family Mme Limpho Hani and the party that he led as General Secretary, the South African Communist Party, as they try to make sense of all this and deal with it.
“We too in the ANC are deeply pained by this. Chris Hani was a great son of the soil and was among the most admired, the most beloved, and without a doubt one of the most extraordinary in our revolutionary movement.”
Friday’s opening of the ANC National Conference also coincided with Reconciliation Day – a public holiday.
“On this day, as South Africans, we gather as one people to reaffirm our shared commitment to heal the divisions in our society, to end inequality, and to ensure that all may enjoy equal rights and opportunities,” Ramaphosa said.
“As the African National Congress, this day reminds us of our historic mission to unite the people of South Africa and to give effect to the desire of those brave women and men in Umkhonto we Sizwe who fought for the happiness and freedom of the people of this country.”
Ramaphosa said the 55th National Conference was a watershed moment for the ANC.
“The theme of our conference is: Defend and Advance the Gains of Freedom: Unity through Renewal,” Ramaphosa said.
“This theme calls upon us as delegates to this conference to pursue with greater vigour the rebuilding and renewal of the ANC, and, as a united movement, to advance the fundamental transformation of our economy and society.
“The decisions we will take here will determine the future of our movement and, to a large extent, the direction that our country takes in the years to come.
“We go into the 55th National Conference as an organisation that is renewing and rebuilding itself.”
Delivering his “comprehensive statement of the state of the nation and the political situation” in South Africa, Ramaphosa spoke of the challenges and achievements since the last ANC National Conference.
South Africa encountered challenges that included the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s July riots, floods, rampant crime, corruption and the effects of state capture as detailed in the Zondo Commission report, which have culminated in inadequate electricity supply.
The ANC leader took a particularly hard line on state capture and corruption saying there was no relenting on bringing culprits to book regardless of the push-back.
Some of the culprits had been arrested and were before the courts and billions of rand siphoned from SA were being returned by international companies involved in dishonest business deals with state owned enterprises.
“Amid the many challenges facing the ANC, the persistence of corruption within our ranks stands out as one of the greatest threats to the continued existence of our movement as an effective force for fundamental social change,” warned Ramaphosa.
On the Covid-19 pandemic, the ANC leader said: “We were able to embark on interventions that enabled us to confront the pandemic.
“We introduced economic and social measures that helped minimise the impact of the virus.
“We also initiated a variety of measures that have put the economy on a higher trajectory of growth and development.
“Despite the time lags in putting the economy on a firm footing of sustained growth, the setbacks of failing electricity generation and other weaknesses in infrastructure, we see green shoots starting to sprout.
“I do believe that better days lie ahead.”
By the time Ramaphosa finished reading his lengthy report, it was evident he had taken back control of the conference.
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