Back to business in Polokwane

2007-12-19 12:20

Polokwane - The ANC's 52nd national conference got down on Wednesday to the nitty gritty work of the commission that discusses the party's policies in an atmosphere that one delegate described as the "cessation of hostilities" over its new president Jacob Zuma.

Spokesperson Steyn Speed said delegates would break into commissions to discuss the policy issues that will mark the way forward for the party and, ultimately the country.

Delegates from individual commissions would also take turns to go and vote for the additional 80 members of the party's new extended national executive committee.

Disappointingly for the media, the party decided that it would be more appropriate for Zuma to speak at the closing ceremony of the conference on Thursday and the media briefing expected for Wednesday morning was postponed.

The ANC Youth League, vocal supporters in Zuma's campaign to succeed Thabo Mbeki, were expected to celebrate Zuma's win at a party in a hangar at Polokwane's Gateway International Airport on Wednesday night.

Amid fears of what the change of presidency would do to South Africa's economy, the JSE on Wednesday seemed unperturbed with the all-share index inching up by 0.1% by mid-morning, in line with European markets.

The rand lost one cent to trade at R6.91 to the US dollar.

- SAPA