Statement

We gathered here to celebrate the hundredth birthday of the first Isithwalandwe –Seaparankwe from the former dusty township of Soshanguve in Tshwane.

On 20 October, on Ntate Dr Cholo’s 100th birthday, the President of ANC Cde Cyril Ramaphosa conferred the highest honour to Ntate Dr Cholo at his home in Soshanguve in the presence of his beloved family and ANC comrades from his branch.

As members of the ANCVL we are proud to be associated with you and your selfless contribution in the struggle against the evilest system of apartheid and subjugation.

We would also like to thank you for establishing and building an ANC branch in Soshanguve where you insisted that leaders of the ANC must first understand the values, principles and traditions of the ANC before been given political responsibilities. You are a principled, selfless and ethical leader because of political education you got when you first joined the ANC in 50’s.

As the ANCVL we are privileged that at your advanced age you still care about the distance your organisation has from the poor and about the economy that is not growing, which has resulted in mass unemployment, especially amongst the youth.

It is sad to note that the ANC which you gave your life to has been infiltrated by rogue individuals who are there to eat and are not ashamed of robbing a publichospital of billions of rands just to sustain their lavish lifestyle. Their actions have dented the image and the credibility of your glorious movement.

As members of the ANCVL we are not here to mourn and point fingers but dirty our hands and participate actively in the rebuilding and renewal programme of the ANC.

The ANCVL has been given a mandate to drive the renewal programme.

The ANC has adopted a resolution that all members of the ANC must all go through the Foundation Course, which has been researched and designed by senior members of the ANCVL. All delegates to the National General Council which will take place in December must have gone through the course.

Members of the ANCVL are fully involved in the ANC Local Government Intervention task team. As veterans we are mandated to ensure that the ANC’s six pillars of the action plan for local government intervention are implemented.

For us to win the upcoming local government elections we must address the core service delivery commitments to South African citizens. We must deliver on water, sanitation, refuse removal, fix potholes and water leaks, ensuring electricity and that our people are registered on indigent registers and get housing and title deeds.

We must reconnect with the people and restore trust and accountability. As veterans we will ensure that our councilors convene community meetings and deal with basic services to communities.

Ntate Cholo we will not disappoint you and our ANC, we will bring back the integrity and credibility of your glorious movement!

Ends//