Media Statement

Veterans League NEC’s second meeting focuses on forthcoming elections 

The newly elected NEC of the Veterans League met on 17 August 2023 to deliberate on key issues facing the country as well as confirm administrative arrangements to strengthen its operation, post its National Conference at the end of July 2023.

High on the agenda of the meeting was the need to prepare for the forthcoming national and provincial elections, particularly since the ANC NEC has opened up the process for branches to nominate electoral candidates. 

The NEC committed themselves to be urgently seized with the tasks necessary to ensure a decisive ANC victory with public representatives of high quality and integrity in the national and provincial legislatures. 

This includes engaging in the drafting of the election manifesto and ensuring that all nominated candidates are persons of quality and integrity. Candidates should not be associated with any criminal activity, gender-based violence, malfeasance or have failed to live up to their current deployments as public representatives.

The Veterans League (VL) is committed to ensuring that veterans across the country are active in the branch nomination process as well as to ensure that members of the VL with appropriate skills and experience are nominated and secure electable positions on candidate lists. 

It was also acknowledged that to build support for the ANC, members of the VL have to be active in local structures attending to community based issues and supporting the turn-around of dysfunctional municipalities. 

Other key issues on which the NEC deliberated on included:

Lack of progress on addressing state capture

The meeting expressed dismay at the lack of progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the Zondo Commission Report and tardy progress on bringing to book those implicated in state capture and looting of the state. The VL NEC resolved to set up a committee to monitor the progress of both the ANC and the state in addressing these matters. 

It also expressed support to members of the Veteran’s League who are active in the Defend Democracy Campaign out of a recognition that our hard-won democracy gains need to be defended. 

Commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the launch of the UDF

On the eve of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Sunday 20 August, the VL welcomed the UDF40 initiative under the banner of UDF40 Active Citizenry for Accountability and Transformation. 

“We do not view it as an attempt to undermine the ANC or set up an alternative political party but as an initiative to focus on re-activating the spirit, values and ways of working of the UDF”, said Snuki Zikalala, President of the VL. 

“Many members of the VL started their 40 years of unbroken service in the UDF and calls such as reconnecting with communities, rebuilding local structures, engaging, and supporting service delivery is precisely the active citizenry that the VL resolved to take forward at its National Conference”, he added. 

Women’s Month 

On the eve of the second anniversary of the assassination of Bebita Deokaran and the 98th birthday of an Isithwalandwe, Cde Gertrude Shope, the NEC recognised the contribution that women such as these both to the struggle for freedom and the defence of democracy in our country.  

The Constitution of the VL was amended at our recent National Conference to embrace the principle of ensuring gender equity in all VL structures and the NEC is made up of equal numbers of men and women. 

The NEC will be meeting in early September to develop a programme of action which will include a focus on the development of women’s leadership across the movement and standing up against violence, harassment and ongoing patriarchal stances in our society. 

 

ENDS

ISSUED BY  THE ANC VETERANS LEAGUE

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Snuki Zikalala 

+27 82 561 3900