Provincial chairperson of the Mpumalanga African National Congress (ANC) Mandla Ndlovu has urged structures to intensify campaigns and interactions with communities.

Ndlovu reflected on the political developments in the country within and beyond the organisation during his address at the virtual Special Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting.

“Branches of the ANC will need to elect candidates who are the people’s choice, but [who] also represent the values of the ANC, especially that of humility, honesty, hard work and selflessness. The ANC is the leader of the people hence it’s important to intensify our interactions in that regard or there will be a gap suffered,” he said.

Two members who served in the Mpumalanga Legislature and National Assembly respectively have resigned: Million Makaringe and Elvis Siwela.

Ndlovu saluted them for their “selfless service to the people of South Africa” and wished them well in their future endeavours. He welcomed the provincial chairperson of the ANC Youth League Thulasizwe Thomo to the provincial legislature.

“We wish the incoming and the outgoing members of legislature well in their new roles and further endeavours in their life and political journey,” he said.

The PEC has resolved to convene an Economic Summit which will be held on April 13 in the Gert Sibande region. The summit is set to consider all issues of the economy with a view to developing a concrete programme of action to grow jobs faster and also create jobs for the marginalised, particularly youth and women.

“Considering the important contribution of mining, agriculture and tourism in our provincial economy, this summit will be followed by a deliberate focus on a Mining and Energy Indaba convened by government on the 3rd of April 2023, to be followed by Agriculture and Forestry Indaba,” he stated.

The province has also appointed new sub-committee members including Tim Mashele who will head the Organising and Campaigns subcommittee, Ndumiso Mokako to head the Economic Transformation subcommittee, as well as Dikeledi Mahlangu who will head up Constitutional and Legal Affairs.

Ndlovu described subcommittees as “critical” to implement the ANC’s programme of action, and in supporting the PEC to execute its mandate.