African National Congress (ANC) Mpumalanga secretary Muzi Chirwa has called for organisational renewal to eliminate poverty, inequality and unemployment, scourges that remain a struggle in communities.

Chirwa was speaking during the province’s ANC January 8 celebration in Kamhlushwa, near Mbombela, on Saturday.

“On this day we look back at where we come from as an organisation and as a country but also not dismissing the challenges of social injustices faced by our people, especially the high rate of unemployment,” he said.

He further said that loadshedding was adding to the already dampened economic state of the country and that it demanded immediate fixing and damage control.

“The issue of loadshedding is taking a toll on everyone and this is something that needs a quick resolution,"he said, adding that "South Africa . . . will need to dictate what happens in the case of a Just Transition Energy,” Chirwa said.

He added that the province was also in support of the party’s step-aside rule.

“Renewal is about working together as an organisation and as Mpumalanga we have always supported the step-aside notion, in fact we are one of the proponents among most provinces to support and instigate the notion,” he said.

The provincial secretary general also said that the organisation in the province was highly concerned of the political killings in Mpumalanga, particularly in Mkhondo where local councillor Sbonelo Mthembu was gunned down on Friday along with two other party members.

“We are disturbed by the unending political crimes in this province. This is clearly a political problem and a game of power hunger and people fighting for positions that we are hoping the law enforcement will get to the bottom of,” he said.

Mpumalanga is also a province dominated by issues of gender-based violence and Chirwa admitted that the scourge remained a struggle that challenges all stakeholders involved.

“We are calling on all sectors of society including faith-based organisations to community groups, schools and all political organisations to work with us as the ANC and government to combat this staggering gender-based violence,” he said.

Chirwa also paid tribute to Dr Frene Ginwala saying that the ANC and the country at large had lost an icon.

“We have lost a giant who lived in the era of saints and during her tenure she served our country with integrity and made Parliament a whole domain as per its attribute,” he ended.