Fikile Mbalula claims ANC leadership drives economic growth

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the ruling party had made significant progress in fighting poverty in South Africa, and the country’s 0.4% economic growth in the first quarter of 2023 is due to ANC leadership.

Mbalula spoke at a recent media briefing following the National Executive Committee’s (NEC’s) Election Manifesto Review.

“Today, our people have been hoodwinked to believe that the ANC did nothing for them. They are being hoodwinked to believe that all this ANC did was to fatten themselves – that they did nothing,” he said.

Mbalula said the ANC had implemented various interventions since it has been in power, which has allowed it to meet at least 70% of the 120 election promises made in its 2019 national and provincial election manifesto.

Some of these promises included.

• Create an extra 275,000 jobs each year by boosting local demand for goods.
• Investing more in mining, manufacturing, and agriculture.
• Expanding export markets,
• Mobilise R1.2 trillion in new investment over 4 years.
• Create space for new emerging companies by ending monopolies and behaviour that stifle competition.
• Appoint qualified teachers, develop their skills and enforce accountability.
• Implement a National Health Insurance to provide quality health care free at the point of use.
• Invest in safe, reliable, and integrated public rail transport.
• Ensure police are better trained to investigate and conclude cases.
• Take decisive action against state capture and corruption in public institutions and state-owned enterprises.

While Mbalula acknowledged that the country is facing and has faced major challenges, including load-shedding and Covid-19, the ANC has never “folded its arms”.

“Mid-August, we are going to Jabulani Amphitheatre to give a report back on the manifesto […], and you will realize what this ANC did in this country to fight poverty,” he said.

“This 0.4% GDP growth is not happening on its own. It’s happening because there is leadership here.”

Mbalula said the ANC’s role in society is to lead people. “If we don’t provide leadership, this revolution will go. This struggle will depreciate and become something else.”