African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa is ready to root out poor performing leaders at national, provincial and local levels.

Ramaphosa was addressing ANC members in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape over the weekend, during the ANC’s 108th birthday celebration.

“In terms of an effective portfolio evaluation, whether nationally, provincially or at a local government level, where there is poor or low performance there will be consequences; poor performing leadership will be dealt with through consequence management,” said Ramaphosa.

He added that those officials who steal public resources, which are meant to help the poor, will be punished.

Each ANC metro will now have one plan and one budget as part of the party’s objective to end corruption.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said the culture of payment must be exercised in all communities to strengthen government and in turn, to serve South Africans.

“In order for local government to suffice, communities must play their role of paying for the services that local government gives them. It is a give and take situation; water and electricity provided for [must] be paid upon, as the ANC slogan says ‘together we can do more,” said Ramaphosa.

The ANC President also touched on the issue of equal rights among South Africans.

“We need to bridge the gap between South Africans and exercise the spirit of equal rights, to share wealth and land. Both black and white people have equal rights because South Africa is for all living in it,” said Ramaphosa. 

He also said that the ANC’s mission is to build a non-sexist South Africa through gender equality at home, work and on the sports field.

“A man and a woman must receive the same salary for the same type of job performed; there should be equal pay despite race,” he said, adding that people with disabilities must also not be discriminated against.

He also spoke of the youth unemployment scourge saying job creation was a focus area for the ANC and that the party wanted to cement the investment drive in infrastructure to expand pathways for young people.