49th National Conference of the African National Congress

Last updated

49th National Conference of the African National Congress
←  1991 December 17–22, 1994 (1994-12-17 – 1994-12-22) 1997  →
2,719 party delegates
  Mandela 1991.jpg
Candidate Nelson Mandela (unopposed)
President before election

Nelson Mandela

Elected President

Nelson Mandela

The 49th National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) was held from 17 to 22 December 1994 in Bloemfontein, [1] the city in which the ANC was founded. The conference took place several months after the South Africa's first democratic elections, at which the ANC had won 62.65% of the national vote and incumbent ANC President Nelson Mandela had been elected national President. It was therefore the ANC's first national conference as a ruling party, and only its second national conference since its unbanning in 1990. The theme of the conference was "From Resistance to Reconstruction and Nation-Building." [2] Attended by 2,719 voting delegates, [3] it was held at the University of the Free State, which Mandela said was remarkable, given that the university had "condemned [the ANC] as subversive, as treasonable" during apartheid. [4]

Contents

The conference preserved the outcomes of the 48th National Conference insofar as Mandela was re-elected unopposed [5] as President and Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected unopposed as Secretary General (despite rumours of a challenger); [2] however, the composition of the rest of the top leadership changed. [6] Thabo Mbeki, by then national Deputy President and ANC Chairperson, was elected unopposed to replace Walter Sisulu as ANC Deputy President, and parliamentary Chief Whip Arnold Stofile was elected unopposed to replace Thomas Nkobi as Treasurer General. [7] Sisulu, aged 82, had declined to stand for a second term, and Nkobi had died in September. There was contestation around only two positions: National Chairperson and Deputy Secretary General. [8] Jacob Zuma and Cheryl Carolus, respectively, were elected to those positions. [6]

In his opening remarks, Mandela reflected upon the journey the ANC had taken to become "the majority organisation in the first ever democratically-elected government" of South Africa. [9] At the conclusion of his closing remarks, however, he chastised some attendees for their "disgraceful behaviour," referring to them as "men who have been infiltrated into our organisation by the enemy to tarnish our image." [4] Mbeki had delivered similar admonishments the day before. [4]

Leadership elections

The following were elected to the ANC "Top Six" leadership positions at the conference: [6]

In an electoral contest over the office of National Chairperson, Jacob Zuma, the outgoing Deputy Secretary General, won comfortably against cabinet Ministers Pallo Jordan and Jeff Radebe. The results of the vote were as follows: [7]

PositionCandidateVotes%
National Chairperson Jacob Zuma 1,67077.60%
Pallo Jordan 25511.85%
Jeff Radebe 22710.55%

The only other Top Six position to go to a vote was that of Deputy Secretary General. Sankie Mthembi-Nkondo was understood to be Mandela preferred candidate for Deputy Secretary General, and was also supported by Mbeki and Zuma, but lost "decisively" against the more left-wing candidate, Cheryl Carolus. [10] There was also initially a contest for the position of Treasurer General, but Arnold Stofile was elected unopposed after Henry Makgothi and Sam Motsuenyane withdrew their candidacy. The Mail & Guardian reported that Mandela had backed Motsuenyane, [11] and some had viewed Makgothi as the frontrunner. [12]

National Executive Committee elections

For the first time in the history of our country, we have under one roof, sharing the same vision and planning as equals, delegates from every sector of South African society, including those who hold the highest offices in the land. This in itself vividly captures the qualitative change our country has undergone: a dream fulfilled and a pledge redeemed. That pledge, made in this mother-city of the ANC 83 years ago by yet another representative gathering, was to transform South Africa into a non-racial and democratic society. As we meet in the environs where they planted the seed, we can proudly say to the founders: the country is in the hands of the people; the tree of liberty is firmly rooted in the soil of the motherland!

– Nelson Mandela, political report to the 49th Conference

The National Executive Committee was also elected at the conference. Of the 60 members ultimately elected, the following received the most votes: [13]

  1. Bantu Holomisa (1,915 votes)
  2. Pallo Jordan (1,879 votes)
  3. Peter Mokaba (1,824 votes)
  4. Mac Maharaj (1,818 votes)
  5. Winnie Mandela (1,802 votes)
  6. Sydney Mufamadi (1,769 votes)
  7. Terror Lekota (1,732 votes)
  8. Valli Moosa (1,725 votes)
  9. Harry Gwala (1,685 votes)
  10. Dullah Omar (1,680 votes)
  11. Ronnie Kasrils (1,677 votes)
  12. Steve Tshwete (1,663 votes)
  13. Joe Slovo (1,651 votes)
  14. Tito Mboweni (1,640 votes)
  15. Ahmed Kathrada (1,601 votes)
  16. Jeff Radebe (1,596 votes)
  17. Trevor Manuel (1,594 votes)
  18. Nkosazana Zuma (1,557 votes)
  19. Kader Asmal (1,503 votes)
  20. Carl Niehaus (1,488 votes)

Some anti-apartheid stalwarts dropped off the NEC, either because they did not seek re-election or because they had been appointed to state offices which precluded them from party leadership. [8] These included Andrew Mlangeni, Albertina Sisulu, Albie Sachs and John Nkadimeng. Notably, the top-ranked candidate, Holomisa, was a new addition to the NEC.

Resolutions

The conference passed motions for the urgent transformation of the South African state, with particular attention given to the civil service, judiciary system, media and policing. It also reaffirmed several central party and government policies, including the 1992 Ready to Govern policy, the 1994 Reconstruction and Development Programme, and the Health Plan on national health insurance. [14]

Perhaps the greatest undertaking of the conference was a set of wide-ranging amendments to the ANC constitution, including a substantial restructuring of the organisation to adapt to the post-apartheid era. For example, the fourteen regional branches represented in the party were reconstituted as nine provincial branches, each with their own subregions and branches. The conference resolved to increase the size of the NEC to 66 members (including the Top Six), and also to reduce the size of the National Working Committee to the Top Six and no more than a quarter of the elected NEC members. It also committed in principle to ensuring adequate representation of women in decision-making structures, and resolved to consider gender quotas (which were later implemented). [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thabo Mbeki</span> President of South Africa from 1999 to 2008

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served as the second president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Congress (ANC). Before that, he was deputy president under Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma</span> South African politician (born 1949)

Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma, sometimes referred to by her initials NDZ, is a South African politician, medical doctor and former anti-apartheid activist. A longstanding member of the African National Congress (ANC), she currently serves as Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and is the Chancellor of the University of Limpopo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baleka Mbete</span> South African politician (born 1949)

Baleka Mbete is a South African politician who was the Deputy President of South Africa from September 2008 to May 2009. She was also the Speaker of the National Assembly for two non-consecutive terms from 2004 to 2008 and from 2014 to 2019. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she was first elected to the National Assembly in 1994 and stepped down from her seat in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African National Congress Youth League</span> Youth wing of the African National Congress

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) is the youth wing of the African National Congress (ANC). As set out in its constitution, the ANC Youth League is led by a National Executive Committee (NEC) and a National Working Committee (NWC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoko Didiza</span> South African politician (born 1965)

Angela Thokozile Didiza is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development since May 2019. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she was the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from June 1999 to May 2006 and Minister of Public Works from May 2006 to September 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula</span> South African politician

Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula is a South African politician who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly from August 2021 until her resignation on 3 April 2024. She was a cabinet minister from 2004 to 2021, including as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans between June 2012 and August 2021. She was an elected member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) between 2002 and 2022 and is a former president of the ANC Women's League.

Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist who served as the second Premier of the Eastern Cape from 1997 to 2004. After that, he was Minister of Sport and Recreation from 2004 to 2010. He was also a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC).

The 52nd National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) was held in Polokwane, Limpopo, from 16 to 20 December 2007. At the conference, Jacob Zuma and his supporters were elected to the party's top leadership and National Executive Committee (NEC), dealing a significant defeat to national President Thabo Mbeki, who had sought a third term in the ANC presidency. The conference was a precursor to the general election of 2009, which the ANC was extremely likely to win and which did indeed lead to Zuma's ascension to the presidency of South Africa. Mbeki was prohibited from serving a third term as national President but, if re-elected ANC President, could likely have leveraged that office to select his successor.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) is the party's chief executive organ. It is elected every five years at the party’s national conference; the executive committee, in turn, elects a National Working Committee for day-to-day decision-making responsibilities. At the NEC's head is the president of the ANC, and it also contains the other so-called "Top Seven" leaders : the deputy president, chairperson, secretary-general, two deputy secretaries-general and treasurer-general.

The 51st National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) was held at the University of Stellenbosch in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, from 16 to 20 December 2002, during the ANC's 90th anniversary. President Thabo Mbeki was re-elected to the party presidency and, notably, there was no change in other five top leadership positions except for Deputy Secretary General. There was also little competition for other spots on the National Executive Committee (NEC). This ANC conference has thus been called "the quietest in its history."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the African National Congress</span> Aspect of South African political history

The African National Congress (ANC) has been the governing party of the Republic of South Africa since 1994. The ANC was founded on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein and is the oldest liberation movement in Africa.

The 53rd National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) was held in Mangaung, Free State from 16 to 20 December 2012, during the centenary of the ANC's establishment, also in Mangaung. It re-elected incumbent President Jacob Zuma and his supporters to the party's top leadership and National Executive Committee (NEC), solidly defeating an opposing group that had coalesced around presidential challenger Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thandi Modise</span> South African politician

Thandi Ruth Modise is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. She was previously the Premier of the North West from 2010 to 2014, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces from 2014 to 2019, and Speaker of the National Assembly from 2019 to 2021.

The 50th National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) took place from 16 to 20 December 1997 at the University of the North West in what was then called Mafikeng. Attended by 3,000 voting delegates, the conference elected a successor to outgoing ANC President Nelson Mandela, who declined to stand for another term. Thabo Mbeki was elected unopposed, and Jacob Zuma was elected unopposed as his deputy; they were later elected President and Deputy President of the country in the 1999 general elections, in which the ANC won 66.35% of the vote, up from 62.65% in 1994.

Godfrey Phumulo Masualle is a South African politician from the Eastern Cape who has represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly since May 2019. He was Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises from May 2019 to March 2023, and before that he was the sixth Premier of the Eastern Cape from May 2014 to May 2019.

The 54th National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) took place from 16 to 20 December 2017 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, Gauteng. At the conference, the ANC elected its National Executive Committee (NEC) and other top internal leaders. Often referred to as the Nasrec Conference, it was held during the centenary of the birth of former ANC President Oliver Tambo and was convened under the theme, "Remember Tambo: Towards Unity, Renewal and Radical Socioeconomic Transformation."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enoch Godongwana</span> South African politician

Enoch Godongwana is a South African politician and former trade unionist who is currently serving as the Minister of Finance since August 2021. He is a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC).

The 48th National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) took place from 2 to 7 July 1991 at the University of Durban–Westville in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. It was the first national conference of the ANC since the organisation was banned by the apartheid government in 1960 and marked the ascension of Nelson Mandela to the ANC presidency, which since 1967 had been held by Oliver Tambo.

The Provincial Executive Committees (PECs) of the African National Congress (ANC) are the chief executive organs of the party's nine provincial branches. Comprising the so-called “Top Five” provincial officials and up to 30 additional elected members, each is structured similarly to the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) and is elected every four years at party provincial conferences.

Fébé Potgieter-Gqubule is a politician from Eastern Cape, South Africa. She has held various positions in public entities and in her political party, the African National Congress (ANC).

References

  1. ↑ "49th National Conference 1994". ANC. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Bloemfontein: ANC Taking Stock". Los Angeles Times. 13 December 1994. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Credential Report on Delegates". ANC. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "49th National Conference: Nelson Mandela`s closing Address – ANC" . Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Mabena, Lindiwe (11 December 2019). "This week in 1994: Democracy 25". SABC News. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "49th National Conference: National Executive Committee as elected at Conference". ANC. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  7. 1 2 "ANC shuffles its leaders" (PDF). Namibian. 21 December 1994. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  8. 1 2 "1994 Conference". Nelson Mandela: The Presidential Years. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Mandela, Nelson (17 December 1994). "Political Report of the NEC, to the 49th National Conference by President Nelson Mandela". ANC. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "The poet with a politician's instincts". The Mail & Guardian. 20 January 1995. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Mandela nominates Motsuenyane". The Mail & Guardian. 22 December 1994. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "ANC gathering to grapple with challenges of power" (PDF). Namibian. 16 December 1994. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "49th National Conference: National Executive Committee Voting Results". ANC. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "49th National Conference: Resolutions". ANC. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "Amendments to the ANC Constitution". ANC. 24 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 May 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.