Pretoria - In order for the ANC to remain strong and effective, ANC President Jacob Zuma said discipline was non-negotiable and must be enforced at all levels of membership and leadership, without fear or favour.
On the 99th anniversary of the African National Congress (ANC), Zuma reaffirmed the character of the ANC as a disciplined force of the left, a multi-class mass movement and an internationalist movement with an anti-imperialist outlook.
"We underscore that to achieve its strategic objectives, the ANC must vigorously adhere to the principles of unity, selfless service, collective leadership, democratic centralism, internal debates, humility, honesty, hard work, constructive criticism and self-criticism, discipline and mutual respect, as part of the traditions of the movement," he said.
He said these were the traditions that were reinforced at the National General Council meeting in September 2010.
Some 60 000 ANC supporters countrywide and some international guests were attending the party's 99th birthday celebrations at the 45 000 seater Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane in Limpopo
The January 8 statement is the start of year-long celebrations which will culminate in the centenary of the organisation next year in Bloemfontein.
The theme for this year's 99th Anniversary Celebrations is "Together Consolidating People`s Power for a Democratic Society" with a sub theme: "Towards hundred years of Selfless Struggle."
