ANC forms basic national policy

made the remarks as he announced the outcomes of his party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which was held to evaluate the national policy implemented by the government in addressing the country’s challenges.
“The ANC has expressed full support for the establishment of the BRICS bank, encouraging the South African government to make an offer to host the bank,” Mantashe said.
“The meaning of the BRICS bank is that it creates a South-South bank, giving an alternative to the multilateral financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, so that we are not locked in the conditions given by these institutions when we take money there,” Mantashe said.
In its assessment of the government’s performance in improving the lives of its citizens, the NEC agreed that the national development plan is so far on the right track towards taking the country forward.
“The NEC directed that there must be a focus on both domestic and continental economic opportunities.
Government departments were urged to develop stronger links between social protection and job creation measures to address poverty in a more comprehensive way,” the ANC secretary general said.
The ruling party also proposed more aggressive strategies to combat unemployment among the youth.Mantashe said, “efforts to increase youth employment must be doubled through the development of a comprehensive youth employment accord.
“The party also emphasised that there will be no wholesale nationalisation of mines, saying “that is costly and unsustainable”.
It called for a heightened state participation in the extraction of strategic minerals and that all such minerals should be identified within the next two months.
The ANC also reaffirmed that education is an important priority that needs the focus of all South Africans. “The report on education showed that progress is being made in basic education.
It was agreed that education requires the mobilisation of society to make positive contributions in ensuring the South African children have access to education,” said Mantashe.
The party also found a lot of progress has been made in health. “We are heartened by the report revealing a reduction in the transmission of HIV and Aids from mother to child,” said Mantashe.
The ANC also called for a national dialogue on racism, ethnicity and patriarchy to promote social cohesion.
The resolutions of the meeting will be taken into consideration by the government when it holds its own meeting. — Xinhua.