SACP to go head-to-head with the ANC in the upcoming elections

MBOMBELA – The Mpumalanga  SACP has resolved to contest the
2019 national elections as a stand-alone political organisation.
The decision was taken during its elective conference held at the Ehlanzeni TVET College over the weekend.

If the province manages to convince other members to agree in the organisation’s national congress in 2017, the party will go head-to-head with its alliance partner, ANC, in contesting state power.

Also read: SACP says it’s time to rethink its role

During the provincial conference, provincial secretary, Mr Bonakele Majuba retained his position. Other leaders in the top six included provincial chairman Mr Lucky Mbuyane, deputy chairman Mr Andries Mnisi, treasurer Ms Fisani Shabangu, first deputy secretary
Mr Mandla Tibane and second deputy secretary Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma.

Majuba said although the issue of contesting state power needed to be discussed on a national level, the province felt that it was ready. He added that the SACP was worried about the ANC’s electoral-support decline.

“We think if we had contested the recent local government elections we would have done better. Maybe we would have gone into a coalition with the ANC, who knows?”

Majuba said the party was ready to support the ANC, but it would be based on mutual respect and principles.

Also read: ANC condemns violence in KaNyamazane 

The SACP felt that the ruling party only consulted it when support was needed, but deserted it in leadership matters.

“When we speak of principles we must not use them only when it favours and suit us. We include them even when they don’t,” Majuba said.

He cited the continuous attack of the SACP’s secretary general, Mr Blade Nzimande by Ancyl members as another thorny issue threatening peace between the two sides.

“The continuous attack on our general secretary by some people using ignorant elements in the Ancyl who are used as robots, is unacceptable,” he said.

Majuba mentioned that ANC leaders had to be mature enough to provide good leadership and stop using Ancyl leaders to fight their political battles.

Also read: Mpumalanga backs Zuma 

Another long-standing issue is the physical attacks between ANC and SACP supporters in KaNyamazane during a Joe Slovo memorial lecture in January.  ANC stalwart, Dr Mathews Phosa
and Majuba were supposed to address party supporters.

Also read: SACP adamant alliance has resolved infighting 

Although the provincial alliance summit held in April had resolved issues between the two sides, the first deputy secretary of the SACP,
Mr Mandla Tibane said they were worried about the delay of the release of the investigation report into the attacks.

“If national leaders fail to release the report in time that will cause the relationship between us and the ANC to be strenuous,” said Tibane.

Also read: More arrests after ANC vs SACP violence 

He added that the SACP was concerned about how the ruling party selected its candidates in elections. “In the context of widespread corruption in the party, based on factionalism and cadre deployment, we are worried about how the party runs their affairs,” he concluded.