The 55th National Conference of the African National Congress has adopted a series of resolutions aimed at reviving and transforming the country’s economy.
The party’s Economic Transformation Commission ruled that social grants and welfare payments must be protected from inflationary pressures and expanded to provide basic income as the government budget allows.
The commission further resolved that the restructuring of Eskom’s unsustainable debt should be carried out as a matter of priority to overcome the continuous blackouts.
The ANC Economic Transformation Commission has determined that proper maintenance of the coal plant along with developing a skills base is required to get Eskom’s power plants up and running again.
The commission says the Just Energy Transition Association’s investment plans must be implemented effectively through grants and highly concessional financing.
Human Settlements Minister Mamoloko Kubayi says: “Some of the energy space and the conversations we’ve had around energy are always tainted by competition, whether it’s coal versus renewables, which is not supposed to be So. That’s why the concept of power blending has always been what we prefer, but you find it taints to the point of even the solution we try to come up with because you either get labeled Mantashe. I was saying a coal fundamentalist or a renewable energy person, but we could find neutrality in terms of them supporting each other.”
Results of the 55th ANC Conference and expectations for January 8 Statement: Sandile Swana
The commission has resolved to continue with the implementation of the preferential hiring policy aimed at promoting people who have been disadvantaged by unfair discrimination.
Kubayi says the party remains committed to black economic empowerment and transformation.
“We have been very clear from the ANC point of view that transformation remains a critical tool for the African National Congress to transform society but ensure inclusion in the economy, therefore we do not even intend to renege on that. transformation goals or even BEE. . As we go through and conclude the conference, most of the problems related to resolutions will find transformation problems, they will find BEE”.
The commission has further resolved to play a leading role in deepening social compact processes around economic policy interventions for long-term sustainable growth and job creation.
ANC NEC member David Makhura says: “Our constitutional democracy is being threatened by things that are stagnating us or moving us backwards. One of them is that we have a chronically poor performance of our economy. Poor performance on employment regarding transformation can actually reverse the gains of our constitutional democracy.”
The Commission resolved to explore the introduction of a wealth tax to minimize income and wealth inequality. It further reaffirmed previous resolutions of the National Conference on Economic Transformation, but noted the need to ensure implementation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially closes the 55th conference in Mangaung:
