The ANC Provincial Working Committee in the Eastern Cape met in a virtual meeting on Monday, 20 July 2020 to receive a report of the PEC Officials and an update on the Eastern Cape COVID-19 report. The meeting received a brief political input from the Provincial Chairperson, Comrade Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane wherein he stressed that our people still have confidence in the ANC. Our task, therefore, is to reclaim this moral high-ground, by renewing the progressive values of our movement; unity, selflessness, service, collective leadership, democratic centralism, internal debates, humility, honesty, hard work, constructive criticism and self criticism, discipline and mutual respect.
The PWC conveyed it’s condolences to the Mtsi family and thank them for their generosity of having shared Comrade Alfred Mtsi with the liberation movement and the nation.The meeting in expressing its gratitude to life and times of Cde Mtsi – acknowledged that Cde Mtsi lives a void in the position of Speakership in Buffalo City Metro which will be a daunting task to close.
Dr WB Rubusana Region:
The PEC Officials presented to the meeting the urgent matter of filling the vacancy of Speaker in Buffalo City Metro after the passing away of Cde Alfred Skuta Mtsi. The Provincial Deployment Committee has been seized with political responsibility to finalize the matter before the end of the week. The PWC further resolved to be more hands-on and play a direct oversight role over the Buffalo City Metro ANC Caucus in an effort to restore political stability.
OR Tambo Region:
Deployees from O.R.Tambo District Municipality are reminded of their political responsibility, as public representatives, of serving our communities with great diligence and be guardians of the highest values and to respect law and legislative systems. Political supervision of the ANC Caucus will be strengthened by PEC deployees in the Region.
Given the implosion of serious allegations and counter accusations about fraud and corruption- which is an indictment on the people of the district – the PWC implored the MEC of COGTA, Cde Nqatha to pay an attention and closely monitor developments within the District and consider invoking Section 154 and assume all Administrative Functions to rescue the service delivery aspect – whilst the investigations continue. The meeting commended the Premier for the steps that he has taken to request President Cyril Ramaphosa to expedite the SIU investigation. The PWC strongly appeal to law-enforcement agencies to take up their cudgels with the necessary urgency and ensure that those implicated in criminal activity are brought to book.
Eastern Cape Update on COVID-19
The PWC meeting noted and welcomed the good work and recovery rate at the Nelson Mandela Stadium Field Hospital, wherein it has reported as 100% recovery rate. Those admitted at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Field Hospital have expressed the good hospitality they are enjoying in the facility. We are also happy with the progress at the newly opened Dr Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni Field Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay, which has more than 4000 beds and the expansion of hospital infrastructure capacity across the province in response to the demand of the Corona Virus infections.
The PWC welcomed the appointment of Project Management Unit to assist in the fight against Covid-19 which will work with Department of Health and report directly to the Premier. With characters who possess impeccable record in turnaround the most difficult situation – we trust they will add value as we have to navigate the current challenging times with department of health showing signs of a need for such capacity. We also draw inspiration from Premier’s appointed Advisory Committee of 15 members drawn from Academia, Industry and experts in various fields of health. We believe this effort will go a long way to prepare the Province for challenges ahead.
The team led by Dr Sibongile Zungu and including Prof Ian Sanne, Theo Lighthelm, Albert Jansen, Dr Dorman Chimhamhiwa and Wendy Ovens — has conducted an assessment of the province’s health system, administrative processes and capabilities at hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay and in Buffalo City.
The meeting acknowledged the support from the US Embassy which donated ventilators for critical hospitals across the EC to augment the work in the fight against Covid-19; out of the 10 donated ventilators, 5 were installed at Livingstone hospital in Port Elizabeth and another 5 at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha. We also welcome the deployment of 75 doctors and nurses from the South African Military Health Services who are already at work in Province.
As a Province and the country, we are not alone in our fight against coronavirus. Most other countries around the world are engaged in the same struggle as we are. The ANC expresses its gratitude to citizens across the country, who have answered the call: “Protect yourself, Defend each other, Let’s do it together!” – often under difficult circumstance and at great cost to themselves and their families. The meeting extended its condolences and solidarity with the people who are sick including those who have lost loved ones in this global calamity.
It extended its gratitude and appreciation to the heroic medical doctors, nurses, health care workers and essential service workers who risk their lives on a daily basis in the frontline trenches of the battle against this silent enemy. Once again – the seriousness of challenge we face as humanity in the fight against Corona Virus is not the capacity of Health Facilities – but the behavior of our communities who continue to ignore the key regulatory messages of keeping safe and avoid the infections. The defiance to Lockdown regulations will lead to more infections as we are witnessing now and further overburden the health facilities both in the public and private health care facilities. We once again call upon people of the EC to change their behavioral patterns, we are in this together, let’s save lives.
Attack on ANC and it’s leadership
The PWC noted the insults directed to some leaders both Nationally and Provincially and call upon the PEC to investigate and deal with these tendencies. The counter revolution is on its peak and in some instances using the weaknesses within our movement, and this is witnessed by innuendo, unsubstantiated faceless allegations of wrong-doing against leadership in particular those leading the state with venomous language use in particular on social media. Whilst we have to be vigilant against ills – but it cannot be correct that there are people who are determined to destroy the people’s movement by insults using vulgar language to the Provincial Chairperson of the ANC and Premier and abuse the President and Ministers at will. Of course the ANC accepts the fact that there are civil liberties such as freedom of expression but that cannot be abused and all South Africans have rights and responsibilities.
Unity and Renewal
The PWC strongly felt that discipline is a necessary ingredient for the success of any revolution, therefore the meeting resolved that there must be an atmosphere of respect and ANC membership must raise matters in organisational platforms. Furthermore, the PWC noted the impact of social media and reiterated the importance of enforcing the ANC Communications Protocol as affirmed by the 54th National Conference.
Lasly, the PWC urged ANC deployees in municipalities throughout the province and ANC members to be seized with the immediate task of Unity and Renewal and further ensure that work is done on a daily basis to find solutions to the problems and challenges that our people are confronted with. All deployed cadres of the movement have an obligation not only to serve our people wholeheartedly, but also to excel in the course of their service delivery programmes. Building a caring society starts with a capable, inspiring and caring public service at all levels of government.
Protect Yourself. Defend Each Other: Let’s Do It Together.
ISSUED BY THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, CDE LULAMA NGCUKAYITOBI
Enquiries :
Cde Loyiso Magqashela
ANC PEC Spokesperson
Mobile No :0762479845
Gift Ngqondi
Provincial Head of Communications
Mobile No :0849519924 /0848439706
