ANC's NEC convenes to address Venezuela crisis and local governance

The African National Congress (ANC) has announced a pivotal meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) this Monday, set against the backdrop of escalating developments in Venezuela.

Party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri confirmed during a doorstep briefing in Rustenburg, that the NEC will deliberate on the implications of the current Venezuelan crisis, alongside pressing internal matters, as the party gears up for its anniversary celebrations this weekend.

Scheduled for Saturday at the Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg, these celebrations will mark the ANC’s 114 years as a liberation movement. The event presents an opportunity for ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to deliver a keynote address that outlines the organisation’s objectives for the forthcoming year.

“We are going to adopt a formal message of the ANC on the matter of Venezuela,” Bhengu-Motsiri stated, referring to the recent alleged invasion by the United States Army and the purported kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Highlighting the NEC’s role as the party's primary decision-making body between conferences, Bhengu-Motsiri pointed out that the Venezuelan situation is not merely a peripheral issue; its gravity necessitates careful political discussion within the party.

“We wanted to wait for this national executive committee, given the gravity of what has happened there, so that we can have a political discussion first,” she added.

The NEC convenes during a tumultuous period for the ANC, particularly in light of rising tensions with the South African Communist Party (SACP), one of its key alliance partners. For the first time since South Africa's democratic transition, the SACP is expected to contest local government elections without the backing of the ANC.

This realignment could have significant implications for the ANC's electoral strategies and governance.

In addition to the international crisis, Bhengu-Motsiri indicated that local government issues, particularly in underperforming municipalities across the North West and beyond, would prominently feature on the agenda.

"We will focus on discussing that situation. We have made an undertaking that local government is prioritised," she emphasised, reflecting the party's commitment to addressing local governance challenges that have seen service delivery falter in various areas.

The upcoming NEC meeting thus stands as a critical juncture for the ANC, intertwining international affairs with national governance challenges as it seeks to navigate a path forward amidst evolving political landscapes both at home and abroad.