Declaration of the Alliance Summit 15-05-08

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECLARATION OF THE ALLIANCE SUMMIT

9-10 MAY 2008
GALLAGHER ESTATE

The African National Congress, the South African Communist Party, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, together with the South African
National Civic Organisation, met in a highly successful Alliance Summit at the Gallagher Estate, Midrand, from 9-10 May 2008.

After two days of open and constructive debate, delegates agreed that the Alliance, building on the new spirit of unity already displayed in a
variety of joint activities over the past four months, is on course to play its historic role as the leader of South African society in achieving the
goals of the National Democratic Revolution and building a better life for all.

The Summit discussions will be produced as a booklet for distribution to our members.

We are united in action to tackle the many challenges, which face our society. In the coming period we shall be working together on the following key areas:

• The rise in the prices of food, fuel and many other basic
  necessities;
• High levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality;
  
• Health, education and crime;
  
• The electricity crisis;
  
• The 2009 elections.
  
• Zimbabwe

It was agreed that the Alliance will work together to formulate policy, and monitor its implementation through joint ANC/Alliance policy committees
and other mechanisms. This will include the drafting of the ANC Election Manifesto for the 2009 elections and matters pertaining to deployment.
These kinds of interactions will become a permanent feature of alliance processes in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies. In this regard the meeting recommitted itself to the implementation of decisions of the Ekurhuleni I and II summits.

It was also agreed that this culture of collective work would be replicated at Provincial and Regional levels and in this regard capacity needs to
be developed to achieve this objective.

Support for ANC President

The Summit reaffirmed its support for the President of the ANC. We will not only be accompanying him to court but to the Union Buildings as the next President of South Africa.

Economic Policy Conference

It was agreed to hold a top-level Alliance conference on economic policy.

Governance

The summit reaffirmed the ANC-led Alliance as the strategic political centre. Steps need to be taken to strengthen the capacity of the ANC and
the alliance to play this role. Therefore the alliance must engage actively and dynamically with its deployees in government, both with regard to the
implementation of current programmes and preparations for the medium
term.
The summit noted with deep concern developments at the SABC, matters
surrounding the NPA, the energy crisis, allegations around the arms deal
and
the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Attending to hot spots

The summit directed the alliance leadership to urgently attend to all
hot
spots like cross-border problems, crisis in the Eastern Cape in general
and
Nelson Mandela Metro in particular.

The meeting discussed specific policy issues, and reached the following
decisions:

Food prices

The Alliance expressed its deep concern at the devastating impact of
rising
food prices on our people. Urgent action is required in this regard
includes
strengthening legislation to criminalise collusive behaviour, including
price fixing in the food sector. Urgent consideration should be given
to:
* Removing VAT on a wider range of basic food,
* Revamping and increasing financial allocations to the school
feeding
schemes and
* Subsidies to cushion the effect of price rise on the poor.

Land and agrarian reform programmes must be radically speeded up, so
that
more land can be made available for food production to ensure food
security.
The sale of publicly owned land for speculative purposes and
non-developmental use should stop.

The summit agreed to support the COSATU-led civil society action against
high food prices and the rising cost of living on 17th May.

Electricity crisis and Energy Summit

The summit was unanimous in rejecting Eskom's demand for a 53% tariff
increase.

It was agreed that the Energy Summit should examine all aspects of the
energy policy and not just electricity tariffs.

It was also agreed that energy-intensive projects such as aluminium
smelters
should be reviewed, in line with the country's strategic needs. The
alliance
will take active part in the study to determine the costs and benefits
to
the country and at provincial level of these decisions.

The summit further expressed support for initiatives designed for the
promotion of renewable energy generation as well as utilisation of
available
opportunities for co-generation. In this regard the alliance committed
itself to intensify our campaign on the saving of energy.

Scorpions

The summit welcomed progress that has been made to finalise legislation
on
the incorporation of the Scorpions into SAPS, in a manner that would
strengthen our fight against organised crime, as part of the overhaul of
the
criminal justice system that is now underway. It is necessary in this
regard
to exercise maximum vigilance and ensure that the weaknesses that
existed in
the DSO are not reproduced in the new institution.

SABC

The summit noted with concern developments at the SABC and the
controversy
surrounding the appointment of the Board. The current board is not
sufficiently representative. The Alliance is committed to an SABC that
is
truly a public broadcaster and whose board is representative of the
broad
cross section of South African society. This matter requires the urgent
attention of the Alliance, parliament and government.

Creating a Single Public Service

The alliance supports the principle of a single public service. The
summit
however urged that the process to finalise legislation in this regard
should
be handled in a manner that would allow for sufficient time for inputs
from
the public.

Inflation targeting

The Summit has taken note of rising inflation driven largely by external
factors. It noted that high and rising interest rates impact negatively
on
poor communities and on job creation.

The alliance therefore calls for urgent national reflection on the
appropriateness of inflation targeting as well as the ranges chosen as
policy for South Africa given its developmental challenges.

Transition towards a new administration

The Summit committed itself to ensuring that, as we move towards
elections
next year, we will work to ensure that there is a stable and effective
transition so that the ANC can continue to meet the objective of
improving
the quality of life of our people. To ensure that this happens,
mechanisms
of consultation will be put in place between government, the ANC and the
Alliance partners including in regard to key deployments.

Privatisation and outsourcing

The Summit calls for a moratorium on privatisation and outsourcing and
the
review of current outsourced public sector utilities.

Budgeting

Parliament must introduce and pass legislation, as required by the
constitution, enabling it to amend money bills. The budgeting process
across
the spheres of government, including special appropriations, should take
into account urgent social needs and other priorities. Provision should
be
made for special appropriations to address urgent national needs.

Creating decent work

The summit reaffirms the decision of the ANC National Conference in
Polokwane that the creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods,
should be the primary focus of economic policies.

It notes with concern the continuing high levels of unemployment as well
as
the vulnerable position of workers in trade-exposed sectors such as
clothing
and printing. It calls for urgent industrial and other policy
intervention
in vulnerable sectors to ensure that industries are placed on a
sustainable
growth path and that jobs are created and saved.

We call on government to develop a quick response capacity to address
potential large scale job losses and to implement the measures set out
in
the Polokwane resolution on economic transformation. We commit to
develop
measures to address and combat increasing casualisation of work, so that
we
can achieve decent work for all.

Zimbabwe

The summit notes the outcome of the Zimbabwean elections and expressed
grave
concern at the worsening situation in that country, including the arrest
of
the President and Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions. Our approach on this matter is informed by our commitment to the
principles of democracy and human rights. We call for an end to all
violence
and harassment of the civilian population. We urge the leadership and
the
people of Zimbabwe assisted by SADC to work together to find a lasting
solution to this crisis.

As an alliance we will mobilise solidarity for the Zimbabwean people in
our
country and the region.

Conclusion

The Alliance has entered a new era of unity and commitment to the
struggle
to transform the lives of all our people. We call on all South Africans
to
join us as we march forward, confident that the will and determination
of
the people will secure victory.

Issued by:
African National Congress
South African Communist Party
Congress of South African Trade Unions
South African National Civic Organisation

Johannesburg
11 May 2008

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