19 August 2022
The ANC Parliamentary Caucus held its first meeting on 18 August 2022 of the third quarter of Parliament following the mid-year constituency period, which enabled ANC MPs to work with the people in different parts of the country.
Caucus began the constituency period with a Mandela Month Outreach Programme at Port St. Johns in the OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape, where it worked with communities to address their challenges after facing the adverse effects of climate change floods.
As Caucus celebrates women’s month, we pay our respect to the heroines who shaped the cause of struggles for the emancipation of women and South Africa under the most challenging times of oppressive apartheid regimes.
The Caucus paid its respects to the ANC Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Comrade Yasmin Jessie Duarte, who passed on in July 2022. Caucus will hold a memorial service on the 25th of August 2022. Caucus also mourn the passing on of Comrade Anastasia Motaung, who was a member of Caucus serving in the Social Development Study Group, and our struggle veteran and stalwart Mama Rita Ndzanga, a former trade unionist, ANC underground operative who served in the first Gauteng Provincial Legislature (1994-1999), second and third democratic Parliament (1999-2009).
Economic situation and Cost of living
Caucus raised concern about the rising cost of living, which negatively impacts the poor and unemployed the most, whilst household incomes have declined, and prices of basic goods and services have increased due to increasing fuel costs.
The geopolitical situation and the Russia/Ukraine conflict are causing inflationary pressures and increasing the cost of living. The ANC led government should continue to implement programmes that lower the cost of living.
The level of unemployment, particularly amongst the youth, and poverty levels and widening inequality is a critical focus of the Caucus. The acceleration of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan is an urgent imperative, and the Caucus noted that the GDP grew by 1.9 percent and unemployment decreased by 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2022, reflecting economic recovery.
Caucus raised serious concerns regarding power disruptions and undertook to heighten its oversight to ensure that interventions by the government at Eskom yield intended outcomes to end blackouts and supply efficient and low-cost electricity in the long term.
State Capability
Caucus has expressed its concerns on recurring under-expenditure by different spheres of government whilst the people require various basic services. Caucus will have a coordinated approach to address this problem to ensure accountability and consequence management as this has a negative impact on the government’s efforts to address poverty, unemployment, and economic stagnation.
Caucus is dismayed by the slow implementation of assistance interventions in areas affected by the floods disaster and calls for urgent intervention by the National Government on outstanding assistance to KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and North West. The Caucus will speed up efforts of the Ad-Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery to accelerate the delivery of all basic services.
Rising and pervasive levels of violence and social ills
Caucus expressed its grave concern about the high levels of lawlessness and violence and called for strengthening state security agencies to strengthen the fight against illegal mining, a haven of criminal activities that have inflicted violence and harm to the surrounding communities. Caucus condemn all criminal syndicates and Illegal immigrants participating in these illegal mining activities.
Caucus will continue to urge the Ministry of Police and other security agencies to strengthen efforts to combat rape, gender-based violence and femicide, rising levels of murder, drug syndicates, and robbery, which undermine the safety of South Africans and the authority of the democratic state.
Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture Report
The ANC Parliamentary Caucus welcomes the report as it will assist in strengthening Parliament. The ANC Caucus will respond to the various recommendations affecting Parliament. Although the recommendations are not binding, the ANC Caucus will champion the implementation of recommendations which will strengthen Parliament.
Motions by some opposition parties on the Phala Phala Game Farm Matter
We welcome the decision of the National Assembly Speaker to appoint an independent panel to conduct a preliminary inquiry on the ATM motion to determine whether sufficient evidence exists as outlined in Section 89 of the Constitution of the Republic. The ANC will submit proposed names for the independent panel of three fit and proper, competent, experienced and respected South Africans.
Caucus also welcome the decision of the Speaker to refer security aspects of the matter to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence which is an appropriate Committee. The ANC Caucus will accord competent state agencies and relevant parliamentary processes the space to conduct their investigation.
The ANC Caucus notes the unprincipled and opportunistic ganging up of some opposition parties against the ANC based on innuendo, untested allegations, and a rushed attempt to pre-empt proper investigations and to try and achieve political power through the back door after losing the 2019 general elections.
The ANC Caucus rejects the call by the DA for the establishment of an Ad-Hoc Committee on the robbery at the Phala Phala Game Farm. There is a relevant Portfolio Committee responsible for oversight over the SAPS.
We welcome the commitment by the President to fully cooperate with all law enforcement agencies investigating the matter. This is what is expected from a leader who respects the Constitution and laws of the Republic.
President Cyril Ramaphosa remains the torch bearer and champion in the fight against corruption. We support the President and the collective he leads in the endeavour to build an ethical and capable developmental state to bring about socio-economic transformation.
There is an attempt by the DA to deflect public attention from the racial problems confronting the party. The racism embedded in DA politics will continue to alienate black members who continue to resign due to the realisation that it continues to represent backward and racist interests.
The recent appointment of Siviwe Gwarube as the DA Chief Whip is a pathetic attempt to appease Black DA members.
Issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, Comrade Pemmy Majodina