Step-aside issue set to dominate policy conference and influence ANC leadership

Sunday Times Politics Weekly

Today on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at one of most important events on this year’s political calendar – the ANC’s policy conference, which is in preparation for the organisation’s national conference in December.
Hypothetically, if the proposals of the policy conference are adopted in December, they should feed into government policy and impact directly your life and mine.
The question is whether the ANC is attuned to the problems faced by the country – or whether its leaders are living in a leadership bubble? Most analysts and commentators predict that the 'step-aside' policy, which requires ANC members charged with serious crimes to recuse themselves from their posts within 30-days or be forcefully removed, will steal the limelight this weekend. The so called 'step-aside' issue, is suggested as being a yardstick with which to gauge President Ramaphosa's support base within the ANC, ahead of the all important December leadership conference. In this episode we consider the significance of the ANC's policy conference in 2022, what we are expecting from the conference, the significance of the step-aside policy and what this all means for Ramaphosa and the country.
Joining our host,Mike Siluma, to discuss these critical issues is Sunday Times political reporter Kgothatso Madisa, as well as Associate Professor at the School of Governance, Wits University William Gumede.