The African National Congress (ANC) held its first Parliamentary Lekgotla in the 7th Parliament. The two-day event included the induction of ANC Members of Parliament on parliamentary procedures.
Several Cabinet ministers participated in the discussions, along with members of the party’s Western Cape regional structure. ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli outlined the purpose of the gathering, stating, “What are the expectations of the ANC for a member of Parliament? What responsibilities do you have? And what does the ANC expect this member of Parliament to do, particularly in the seventh administration?”
The gathering also focuses on the implementation of key legislation, including the National Health Insurance Act, the Expropriation Act, and the BELA Act.
On the NHI, Ntuli emphasizes that the party remains committed to its rollout, saying, “As you are arriving there, Minister Motsoaledi, Comrade Aaron also giving us a sense of what would be the priorities for 2025 in terms of the implementation of the NHI, because we can’t pull back. We have got to implement that.”
The ANC also reaffirms its stance against the US decision to halt funding to South Africa. Ntuli criticizes the move, stating, “It’s unfortunate that the new administration in the United States of America has taken a position of that nature, which does not only affect South Africa but many developing countries in the world—without even trying to engage those countries—which we think is a diversion from usual international practices.”
