eQonce
In a speech delivered at the ANC Ordinary PEC Meeting in Qonce, Eastern Cape Provincial Chair Oscar Mabuyane emphasized the importance of unity and renewal within the party as it prepares for the 2026 National Local Government Elections.
Mabuyane reflected on the ANC’s governance cycle, highlighting the importance of translating political priorities into policy direction, administrative implementation, and measurable developmental outcomes. He noted that the party’s credibility is most directly experienced at the local sphere of government, where service delivery is most tangible.
“We require all hands-on deck and all shoulders firmly on the wheel,” Mabuyane said. “Each one of us must push forward with equal determination and collective strength.”
The Chairperson also paid tribute to veterans of the liberation struggle, including uMama Debra Komose and Mr. Billy Nel, who recently passed away. He emphasized the importance of preserving the values of discipline, sacrifice, and loyalty to the people that these veterans embodied.
According to Mabuyane, the African National Congress has survived the harshest conditions of repression, imprisonment, exile, and political isolation precisely because its leaders understood that unity was not a convenient slogan. It was a strategic necessity for the survival of the movement and the advancement of the struggle.
“As we approach the Provincial Conference, we must therefore remind ourselves that leadership contests are inevitable in any democratic organisation. What must never be permitted is the erosion of unity once those contests have been concluded.
“When the conference doors finally close and delegates return to their branches and communities, there must remain only one African National Congress. A movement united in purpose, disciplined in action, and unwavering in the historic mission of building a just, democratic, and prosperous society.”
On youth empowerment Mabuyane has called upon the Provincial Executive Committee to insist that all institutions entrusted with the responsibilities of youth development to discharge them with the urgency and seriousness demanded by the socio-economicrealities confronting our youth.
Said Mabuyane,”Our young people are not merely statistics within labour market reports. They are indeed the living embodiment of the future of our province and our country. The programmes designed to empower them must move beyond bureaucratic inertia and administrative delays. They must produce measurable opportunities, real skills development, and tangible pathways into economic participation.”
On the international front, Mabuyane condemned the devastating military strikes against Iran, which resulted in civilian casualties, including the deaths of 89 children. He criticized the unilateral actions of the United States and Israel, warning that such aggression heightens tensions in an already volatile region.
Mabuyane concluded by calling for a united and disciplined ANC, capable of providing political leadership to society and advancing the aspirations of the people. Mabuyane also highlighted the following Key Points:
– Unity and renewal are crucial for the ANC’s success in the 2026 elections
– The party must prioritize service delivery and developmental outcomes at the local level
– Veterans of the liberation struggle must be honored and their values preserved
– The international community must prioritize diplomacy and peace over aggression and unilateralism.
“Unity, however, cannot merely be proclaimed in speeches and resolutions. It must be practiced consciously through our conduct, our decisions, and the manner in which we exercise collective leadership.” – Oscar Mabuyane
