ANC emerges united
2007-12-20 21:40
Polokwane - Avoiding "division and discord", the African National Congress emerged united at the end of its national congress on Thursday night, according to the party's declaration.
"Eschewing dangers of division and discord that threatened to distract us from our historic mission, we emerged in unity to recommit ourselves to the tasks of reconstruction and development," Transport Minister Jeff Radebe read to the over 4 000 delegates gathered in Polokwane.
They represented more than 600 000 of the party's members from thousands of its branches - the party's basic organisational unit.
The five days of the conference had seen "constructive and at times intense engagement".
"We do acknowledge that there were moments when some of us seemed to veer away from the dignified conduct that has always been the hallmark of the ANC."
Radebe said the ANC would continue acting in a manner that earned it the respect and trust of the people.
"One of the abiding strengths of the ANC has always been to be truthful to the people and never to hide our shortcomings or the extent of the challenges we face, the better to find ways of improving our work," he said.
Consensus had been reached on the party's "strategic outlook" and its "detailed policies" for the next five years, when the next national conference would be held.
The conference accepted the declaration.
- SAPA