Cape Town - The number of ANC members in the Western Cape has risen to 50 147 in the past few months, the party said on Monday.
African National Congress
membership in the province was recorded at around 38 000 before the
Mangaung conference in December, provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile
told reporters in Cape Town.
He said the increase was probably because of a “last-minute rush” to recruit new members and renew old memberships.
Provincial chairman Marius
Fransman said it could have been the result of concerted campaigns in
the past year, such as the drive to stop the closure of around 20
schools.
“There is increasing membership on
the Cape Flats linked to the Save our Schools campaign.... These
hardline Democratic Alliance supporters are not anymore sure they are
strong party supporters,” he said.
Following a three-day lekgotla at
the weekend, the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) noted that 217
branches were in good standing, but that 170 branches were not.
“The
PEC instructed all regional executive committees to focus on the renewal
of branches. It also instructed branches to set up voting district base
structures to ensure we increase the reach of the ANC,” Mjongile said.
“We want to take the Western Cape street by street, township by township, village by village and town by town.”
The PEC resolved to launch its
Volunteer Corps programme in April, which had set a target of hiring
5000 volunteers for community development.
At present, 500 “dedicated”
volunteers had signed up to assist with early childhood development,
community food gardens, anti-crime and drug abuse initiatives, sports
development and other initiatives.
These volunteers would also help with the elections next year.
Fransman said the ANC would speak
to the Independent Electoral Commission to make sure voting arrangements
were streamlined in poorer areas.
“We are concerned, because in the metro we've got between 500 000 and 700 000 people who are not registered.”
He said he believed the commission
could improve venues, lighting, electricity and queue arrangements for
all election activities in poorer areas. - Sapa
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