ANC delays talks on provinces

2010-09-23 18:34

Durban - The ANC has "parked" discussions on the future structure of the provinces pending further consultations with its alliance partners, ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga said on Thursday.

Briefing the media at the ANC's national general council meeting, he said the NGC legislature and governance commission had taken its cue from the 2007 Polokwane conference, which had instructed the party to hold a summit conference to deal with the future of the provinces.

In the meantime, government had prepared a report on the matter, but the conference stipulated the Polokwane resolution had not yet taken place.

"We are saying that the ANC is the strategic centre of power. We are going to hold an ANC summit, including the alliance partners, to come up with proposals to give to the national executive committee.

"It is safe to say that more work needs to be done," Motshekga said.

Commission chairperson Nomaindia Mfeketo said the "sentiment" on the provinces was "well received", but the commission did not go into detail.

The discussion document on provinces called on the ANC "to provide a policy framework and a set of criteria for the possible new configuration of provinces, be it the reduction in the number of provinces or their being phased out".

The issue of a single election would also be discussed at the summit to be held before the end of the year.

The NGC was not the platform to take formal decisions on the matter, Mfeketo said.

- SAPA