Mashatile: ANC Gauteng must be one voice
2012-12-09 18:35
Johannesburg - The ANC in Gauteng must go to the national elective conference in Mangaung with one voice, provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile said on Sunday.
"We must articulate the policy positions we agreed to at this [provincial general council] PGC," Mashatile told delegates at a special PGC in Alberton.
"However, we must be prepared to engage with other provinces on the positions we hold."
Mashatile asked Gauteng delegates to be disciplined and to not arrive at the conference in T-shirts which were not authorised by the party, or to sing songs which insulted people or make hand gestures.
"You'll have the opportunity at the ballot box [to vote for your preferred leaders]... You will have the free and fair elections," said Mashatile.
ANC members who support President Jacob Zuma for a second term usually hold up two fingers, while those calling for change use the soccer sign which calls for a substitution.
At its nomination conference at the end of last month, the Gauteng ANC nominated Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to lead the party.
It was holding a special PGC on Sunday to discuss its policy proposals ahead of the national conference.
Policies will be adopted at the ANC's 53rd conference which starts on December 16.
"We must be prepared to engage with other provinces on the positions we hold. We must be prepared to persuade and to be persuaded," said Mashatile.
"In all we do, we must ensure that the ANC emerges stronger, more united, more vibrant and more capable of leading the national democratic revolution."
During his opening address, Mashatile also conveyed well wishes to former president Nelson Mandela, who was undergoing tests at a hospital in Pretoria.
"I want to take this opportunity to send our message of well wishes to him and the Mandela family. May he recover speedily. He remains an inspiration amongst us and we wish him a long life."
Mashatile then lead the conference in song, singing "Nelson Mandela there is no one like you".
- SAPA
