Deputy President David Mabuza says that despite organisational challenges, the North West province remains a home for the African National Congress (ANC).

Mabuza, in his capacity as the Deputy President of the ANC, was speaking during the province’s ninth Elective Conference over the weekend where he extended gratitude to members and volunteers of the North West ANC for their hard work and dedication to ensure that the conference took place.

This was the sixth provincial conference of the ANC with three more to go before the party’s December elective conference. For years the province has been confronted by political challenges without an elected provincial leadership.

“As the National Executive Committee we would like to thank every member of our glorious movement at branch, regional and provincial [level] for the maturity you have displayed in ensuring the conference runs smoothly, especially the members of the IPC [interim provincial committee]. We call this province a home of the ANC because of your hard work and dedication on a daily basis. You have been working tirelessly day to day to ensure the name and the integrity of the ANC.

“Our volunteers understand that in the midst of hardships and the phase of arbitrary attacks, the unity of the ANC should at all times be preserved. This goal is still on the agenda of our revolutionary journey as work towards the consolidation of the gains of our democratic breakthrough,” Mabuza said.

The conference also takes place during Women’s Month and as the country faces the struggle for women's equality, dignity and socio-economic emancipation.

Mabuza said the bravery and courage of the women of 1956 gave impetus to the struggle to build a society founded on human rights, equality and total socio-economic emancipation for all.

“It was their courageous act of defiance against the apartheid regime that ushered in the democratic order that we are enjoying today. Such rights are finding expression in all factors of development and human progress,” he said.

Mabuza said that service delivery to the people should be the main focus of the ANC instead of self-preservation.

“The question is [whether] we still have fire in our bellies to change the people’s current fortunes and to realise a better life for all as we have promised in our 1994 manifesto, including the social contract we have made with them,” said Mabuza.