Glitzy gala dinner kicks off ANC NGC

050915. President Jacob Zuma address the youth during the ANC Youth League 25th National Congress at Gallagher Estate Conference Centre in Midrand North of Johannesburg. 052 Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

050915. President Jacob Zuma address the youth during the ANC Youth League 25th National Congress at Gallagher Estate Conference Centre in Midrand North of Johannesburg. 052 Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

Published Oct 9, 2015

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Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma on Thursday night encouraged businesses to donate money to the ANC, saying it was “wise” to do so, and if businesses did not they would be “in danger”.

This comes after a recent majority-judgment of the Constitutional Court, which suggested party political funding information should be pursued, if desired by citizens, through the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

Thursday night’s ANC national general council gala dinner at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, hosted by party treasurer Zweli Mkhize, was a glitzy affair, with, as is the norm, businesseses paying to attend a dinner with a cabinet minister at each table.

The main table at the gala included businessman Patrice Motsepe and Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini sitting next to each other.

Zuma, making the main address, said the issues to be discussed at this weekend’s NGC included:

* Agriculture and agro-processing

* Benefication of the country’s mineral wealth

* Implementation of the Industrial Policy Action Plan

* Encouragement of private sector investment

* Dealing with workplace conflict, including violent strikes

* Township and rural enterprises

* Boosting the role of state-owned companies

Other issues will also be water, sanitation, growing the ocean economy and building transport infrastructure.

Zuma said while the ANC “in a sense” was clear where it is going, the mid-term NGC’s however presented an opportune time to review, re-assess and, if need be, make moderations to implementation of resolutions made at the ANC national conference three years ago.

The NGC being held at Gallagher Estate begins on Friday morning at 9am and ends on Sunday.

Labour Bureau

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