From News24. Story by Genevieve Quintal and Karabo Ngoepe.

Redistribution is a moral and economic imperative, ANC President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

“By excluding the majority of our people from ownership of the economy, by excluding them from the management of companies and from many professions, we are starving our economy of the human capital it needs to develop,” he said at the ANC’s gala dinner in Sun City ahead of its Jan. 8 statement.

“We do not accept the notion that we must make a choice between growth and redistribution.”

Zuma promised that the ANC government would manage public funds responsibly.

“We will continue to manage public funds responsibly. We will ensure that we spend within our means and that we keep public debt within manageable limits. We will continue to direct public resources towards the poor and in pursuit of productive economic activity,” said Zuma.

The establishment of the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer would reduce wastage, increase efficiency, benefit from economies of scale and reduce the scope for corruption.

The president said the ANC expected its cadres to earn respect from their peers and society as a whole through their “exemplary” behavior.

“We must work together to defeat patronage, the arrogance of power, bureaucratic interference and corruption,” he emphasized.

There is a lot of hard work to be done.

“We need some bold decisions… with your help and support from all South Africans we will continue to struggle and won’t rest until we have achieved a better life for all our people.”

The ANC held its gala dinner ahead of its Jan. 8 statement at the Sun City Superbowl. Tickets cost 15,000 rand ($920US) and up for a table.

Zuma attended the dinner with two of his wives. He was joined at his table by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, former Eskom CEO Brian Dames and Burundian singer and musician Kaja Nin.

Read more at News24.