The ANC has plans to introduce national health insurance in its next
term in government, party president Jacob Zuma has revealed.
"The NEC [National Executive Committee] set up a sub committee to
work on this plan and even costed it," Zuma told a business breakfast
in Johannesburg.
"One of the requirements is health... it is an imperative... we have
to find the resources to do it and we are confident that we will do
it," he said.
The African National Congress had made plans for national health
insurance before the global financial crisis, but the party remained
determined to put the plan into action.
"It might not be at a level that it was but we believe we can do
it," Zuma said.
The ANC was looking beyond the elections and planning its next term
in government, he said.
The incoming administration would make changes to Cabinet portfolios
based on the party's 15 years of experience in government and its
priorities in the next five years.
He said some portfolios would be split and there would a planning
committee in the presidency to oversee government and its functions.
He said this committee would pay attention to those charged with
implementing policy.
The performance monitoring structure in the presidency would be
"very vigorous", ensuring that national, provincial and local
departments were functioning correctly.
It would also ensure that individuals at various levels of
government were "working appropriately".
"We believe that the structure will have a very critical role...
there is no need for anyone to remain in position if they are not
performing," Zuma said.
Responding to a question on the mandate and role of the Reserve Bank
in the ANC's next term, Zuma said: "The role of the Reserve Bank would
continue... it is not going to change. The Reserve Bank is doing very
well."