By The President of the African National Congress (ANC) Mr Cyril Ramaphosa recently visited the Free State for an oversight visit and to ensure that the party implements its mandate in fixing municipalities and transform the economy of the province.
The Secretary General of the ANC in the Free State Polediso Motsoeneng said the discussions held with Ramaphosa accompanied by the National Executive during their meeting with the ANC in the Free State and the Provincial Executive were not just a mere rhetoric, but actionable discussions.
Motsoeneng said the meeting was a reaffirmation of the enduring bond between the movement and its leadership, a strategic realignment of their revolutionary objectives, and a clarion call to renew the party’s collective commitment to the people of Free State province and the nation at large.
It goes without saying that the ANC is plagued with internal challenges and fragmentation; however, the party has gained much ground in stabilising the organisation. According to the Secretary, The PEC reported on the extensive work undertaken to stabilise the movement, noting that out of 319 branches in the province, 244 have successfully elected their Branch Executive Committees (BECs).
He said they acknowledge the challenges that remain, particularly the inconsistency of the membership system, which has proven unreliable in qualifying branches based solely on quorum rather than the completion of leadership elections.
“However, the commitment of the PEC to finalise the 75 remaining interim structures is unwavering. The process of rebuilding is non-negotiable. A functional ANC is measured through its active branches, and we will spare no effort in ensuring that every branch is revitalised, every region is convened, and every structure is accountable,” said Motsoeneng.
Fixing local government is a priority for the ANC, as we have entered election year, this is especially crucial as it will impact the polls later this year. The proper functioning of local government also speaks to improved and growing local economy. These two items topped the ANC agenda during their meeting with Ramaphosa.
“The theme for 2026, Fixing Local Government and Transforming the Economy, took centre stage during the discussions as it relates to progress of execution. The engagement was unequivocal: the quality of life of our people is determined at the local level. It is in the municipalities where the promise of a better life must be actualised.
We reflected on the challenges highlighted in the Provincial Executive Committee’s recent reports, including the financial mismanagement and corruption that have plagued some municipalities, leading to interventions under Section 139 of the Constitution. These are not merely administrative failures; they are political defeats that the ANC cannot and will not tolerate.
In line with heightened DDM, we are repositioning our local government to be the frontline of service delivery and economic activation of our Lekgotla and PEC Resolutions. We committed to actively reposition our economy towards sectors that can unlock inclusive growth and sustainable employment. These include Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Renewable energy, Agro-processing and the digital economy as well consolidate our leverages on Agriculture as the mainstream of our Economy,” said Polediso Motsoeneng.
“The province is committed to restoring public confidence in the capacity of the state to deliver. This means ending the culture of non-performance, ensuring that conditional grants are spent effectively, and rooting out corruption in procurement systems. As the ANC Free State, we are determined to ensure that the municipalities in the Free State are not just administrative entities, but engines of inclusive growth and community development,” he continued.
