In each and every phase of our revolution, the movement is met by new challenges and the movement would therefore demand from its own members’ different character traits and skills to be able to successfully prosecute the challenges the movement is faced with.

The 53rd National conference of the ANC declared that we have now entered a new phase of the struggle, “The second most radical phase of our transition” which is characterized in the main by the struggle for the socio-economic emancipation of our primary motive forces which are black working class & poor. A cadre from the previous phase of our transition as outlined by the NGC of the year 2000 is unfortunately no longer suitable for this transition and hence the need for the new cadre.

Does this mean we must discard all our cadres from the previous phase of our struggle? Certainly not. The building of a new cadre does not mean the discernment of the old cadre and in the same breath by saying we will not do away with the old cadre; we do not equally mean that once a cadre always a cadre. Once and always belongs only to Orlando pirates because, with us, it defies the revolutionary science of change. This challenge will however resolve itself when we set the standards, requirements, and assessment criteria for the new cadre. Some old cadres might make it as new cadres whilst some might not. We, therefore, should note it, but not worry ourselves with that much for now.