‘You have the right to lead the renewal process,’ Ramaphosa tells Veterans’ League

In his closing remarks at the ANC Veterans’ League conference on Sunday 30 July, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the league should not only focus on its past victories, but look ahead to how it can shape the governing party’s future. This includes leading the way in the party’s organisational renewal programme.

Ramaphosa was speaking after the election of new leadership at the Veterans’ League conference at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.

“Ahead of this conference and the [ANC’s] 55th conference, you took it upon yourselves to own the whole process of renewal of your movement. Veterans represented here have reaffirmed their commitment to the [National Democratic Revolution]. This is articulated in your declaration.

“You have the right to call upon our structures to unite and to get rid of factionalism and to say there should be discipline within the organisation and that we must be well-behaved in meetings of the ANC. You have the right because it is borne out of your experience, your consciousness and who you are,” said Ramaphosa.

“You have the right and a voice… You, as the African National Congress Veterans’ League, have a right. Do not ever think that by executing your role in the process of the renewal of the ANC and calling for unity, you are doing it from a weak position — you have a right. You have the right to talk about renewal.”

Read more in Daily Maverick: ‘We must do more, better, faster’: ANC pledges to start ‘painful’ renewal process to restore its relevance and battered credibility

Ramaphosa believes that the Veterans’ League is in an ideal position to push the renewal project because its members have passed the stage of having an interest in leadership positions in the mother body.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBGQb9gEP8c

The Veterans’ League is open to ANC members over the age of 60 who have served the party for at least 40 years.

“The good thing about your involvement as well is that you are not looking for positions. You are not involved in a struggle for positions to be either president of the republic or premier or whatever. You are doing it because of your commitment and that is what you need to remind us about, that you do not have any conflict of interest. 

“In our movement nowadays, it is a fight till the end for positions because by getting into those positions we advance our own standing in society and so forth. You are different and that is why you have this right, the right to intervene, the right to speak out and the right to lead the renewal process,” the ANC president reiterated.

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