The scale of the challenges before us is enormous and we cannot do everything all at once. Should we attempt to address everything with the same urgency and at the same time, we are likely to fail to address anything in any meaningful way.

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… We must therefore prioritise and make choices about the pace and scale with which we will address such challenges.

We are a month away from our 55th National Conference. As this #ANCNEC, we will need to report to delegates on the implementation of the mandate that we were given five years ago at the 54th National Conference. This report will be greatly enriched by the discussions we had here. Our report will reflect that while this NEC has had to confront serious challenges, we can point to several achievements and progress in various areas.
 
At the same time, we will need to acknowledge our shortcomings and failings.

As this #ANCNEC, we extend our congratulations to the people of Angola and the MPLA on the celebration of the centenary of António Agostinho Neto.
#BetterAfricaBetterWorld As one of the founders of the MPLA, he was an internationalist, who supported the struggles of oppressed people across the continent, and in particular the struggle against apartheid in Namibia and South Africa.

We need to welcome the report on preparations for 55th National Conference, which will be held from 16-20 December 2022. #ANC55 We must thank the tens of thousands of ANC members who gathered in their Branch General Meetings to elect delegates to National Conference and to nominate people for election to the NEC.

We have had an opportunity to discuss the #ElectoralActAmendmentBill, which has been passed by the National Assembly. We have noted that the main objective of the Bill is to make provision for independent candidates to contest elections for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.

In giving effect to this priority, the #ANCNEC remains clear that the movement remains resolutely committed to the implementation of broad-based black economic empowerment. #BBBEE We have noted that whilst progress has been made in empowering black people and women in the economy, the benefits of this progress have not been felt by all South Africans.
 
This means that we need to intensify black economic empowerment measures, rather than relax them.

The #ANCNEC meeting has looked at how we need to respond to the rising cost of living, which is causing great hardship for millions of South Africans. Like many countries across the world, we are feeling the economic aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events as a result of climate change and the effects of Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Since the rape and murder of 19-year-old Uyinene Mrwetyana in 2019 sparked mass marches around the country, there have been so many more women killed by men.

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… Since then, the nation has been horrified by the brutal violence that took the lives of Tshegofatso Pule, Nosicelo Mtebeni, Hillary Gardee, Namhla Mtwa, Dimpho Skelenge and many other women.

We are deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from a number of Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant.

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… This is a clear and completely unjustified departure from the commitment that many of these countries made at the meeting of #G20 countries in Rome last month.

We should all remember that in terms of Alert Level 1 regulations:
 
- There is still a #curfew in place from 12 midnight to 4 am.

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… No more than 750 people may gather indoors and no more than 2,000 people may gather outdoors. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue may be used.

In taking the decision not to impose further restrictions at this stage, we considered the fact that when we encountered previous waves of infection, vaccines were not widely available and far fewer people were vaccinated.

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… That is no longer the case. Vaccines are available to anyone aged 12 and above, free of charge, at thousands of sites across the country.
 
We know that they prevent severe disease and hospitalisation.

Firstly, we now know that Omicron has far more mutations than any previous variant. Secondly, we know that Omicron is readily detected by the current COVID-19 tests.

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… This means that people who are showing COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive, should still get tested.

Chairperson,
 
Many people sacrificed their lives in the fight to end apartheid and bring us to the new Constitutional dispensation.
 
When we dishonour the Constitution, its principles and values, we dishonour them too. Since state capture is an assault on the democratic process, it is necessary that the process of extricating the State from a position of ‘capture’ is inclusive, democratic and involves the broad range of interests in society.

Finally, I turn to Mr Koko’s allegation that I improperly interfered to procure his dismissal from Eskom in January 2018.
 
As I detail in my statement to the Commission, Eskom was in a severe crisis at the time. Its domestic and international lenders were threatening to call on their loans, in part because of concerns about Eskom’s leadership and its reaction to allegations of corruption.

Chairperson,
 
The Commission has asked me to address several other matters, including allegations made by witnesses before the Commission. These are addressed in detail in the statement that I have submitted to the Commission. There is one particular issue on which I wish to comment now since it has received widespread attention and is easily disposed of.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which was developed together with representatives from business, trade unions, academia and civil society, was approved by Cabinet in November 2020. The Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum, which was launched in September 2019, is a critical element of our fight against corruption because the health sector is uniquely vulnerable to corruption.

Government envisages a fundamental overhaul of the state-owned enterprises model that addresses not only the deficiencies that permitted widespread corruption, but that also enables these companies to effectively fulfil their social and economic mandates in a sustainable manner. To this end, Cabinet has established the Presidential State-Owned Enterprises Council to reposition SOEs as effective instruments of economic development through stronger oversight and strategic management.

It has therefore been a priority – and remains an ongoing task – of this administration to rebuild and restore the integrity of these institutions. I therefore decided that the appointment of the new National Director of Public Prosecutions should be undertaken through a public and transparent process.

On the evening of 9 December 2015, former President Zuma announced the removal of Mr Nene and the appointment of Mr Van Rooyen. This had an immediate impact on the financial markets. Shortly after Mr van Rooyen was sworn in, then Director-General of National Treasury, Mr Lungisa Fuzile, asked to meet me urgently.

When I last addressed you we announced that certain beaches in our country would be closed on certain days and others would remain open. As the infections continue to rise Cabinet on the advice of the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided that all beaches, dams, lakes, rivers, public parks and public swimming pools in hotspot areas will be closed to the public with effect from tomorrow.

When I last addressed you, I indicated that in managing the pandemic we would follow a differentiated approach that took into account the rise in infections in particular municipalities. Municipalities defined as hotspots will be subject to additional restrictions until there is a clear and sustained decline in infections.