Over the last seventeen years, we have adopted decisions on ORGANIZATIONAL RENEWAL and Design to ensure that the ANC remains the servant leader of our people (this in the context of the ANC as an AGENT FOR CHANGE as stated during the NGC of Port Elizabeth)

[WEBSTER amongst definitions of an AGENT: A person or a thing that causes something to happen (in our situation referring to the pursuit of the people’s interests)]

The 54th conference affirmed the assertion by the 53rd National Conference, that “Renewal is principally about building the ANC’s resilience, enhancing its transformation and governance capacity and its ability to adapt to changing situations so that it continues to serve and lead the people.”

The 53rd conference assertion is restating the lifelong logic that the constant observation of the environmental change and adapting whenever necessary so as to sustain the necessary ability to pursue your predetermined strategic objectives cannot be surpassed.

WHAT ARE THE DEFINING FEATURES Of AN “AGENT FOR CHANGE“IN LEADING A TRANSFORMATIVE SOCIETY?

The Strategy and tactics of the 52nd conference ask this QUESTION: Given the vision of the National Democratic society and the motive forces of change what should be the character of the movement to lead the social transformation?

The following characteristics are proposed:

• Understands the interconnection between the political and socio-economic challenges in our society
• Leads the motive forces of the NDR in pursuing their common aspirations and ensuring that their sectorial interests are linked to the strategic objective
• Masters the terrain of the electoral contest, utilize political power to advance the objectives of the NDR, and wields instruments in line with these ideas as reflected in the National constitution
• Organizes and mobilize the motive forces and build a broader partnership to drive the process of reconstruction and development, Nation-building and reconciliation
• Conducts itself, both in its internal practices and relation to society at large, in line with the ideals represented by the NDR and act as a microcosm of the future

NB: THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS IS SUCH A MOVEMENT

Organizational renewal is about an ongoing look at these characteristics if they are in a state necessary to keep the movement effective in the transformative pursuit. The literature of the African National Congress further states that the following shall be among the traits found in the personal attributes of an ANC member who has to become a cadre, the member shall:

• Have received a thorough induction on the organization
• Receive special training designed and acquired through the structures of the organization
• To be ready to protect the constitution of the ANC and interpret its provisions and policies in such a way that it encourages and build unity in the organization
• Be beyond reproach at all times
• Be fair, consistent, and fearless and at all times be disciplined
• Be committed to collective and organizational processes
• Be able to take criticism and learn from it
• Be the custodian and the guardian of the organization at all times whenever and wherever he\she is
• Always respond the call of the ANC
• Be able to combat factionalism, any attack on the organization and sectarianism at all times
• Not be driven by material or financial gains at the expense of principles and policies of the organization
• Display integrity, humility and commitment to serve the people
• Always put the interests of the organization first
• Have received advanced training from the ANC political school

Organizational renewal helps the organization to assess the consciousness level of the cadreship with a view to look at the deploy ability.