SACP pro-Zuma leaders to be purged – report

It is alleged that pro-Zuma SACP leaders will be harshly punished at the party's national conference in July.

The SACP leadership briefing the media at a press conference in Johannesburg after the party’s central committee meeting this weekend. Photo: ANA/Getrude Makhafola

Plans are under way to remove South African Communist Party (SACP) members who are fierce backers of President Jacob Zuma from leadership positions.

The Mail & Guardian reports that the ‘anti-Zuma’ group within the party is targeting chairperson and Minister of Agriculture Zenzile Zokwana for opposing “a motion of no confidence in Zuma at the NEC’s meeting in November”.

Deputy chairperson and Minister of Sports Thulas Nxesi is reportedly touted to be Zokwana’s replacement.

Another leader walking on a tightrope is deputy minister in the presidency Buti Manamela. Manamela leaped to Zuma’s defence in parliament during the Nkandla scandal debate. The publication reported he risked being removed from the party’s central committee.

Party insiders are understood to have informed the weekly paper that “there has been a serious falling out between SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande and Manamela, who is also a Limpopo ANC provincial executive committee member and former young communist league president”.

Other leaders facing the chopping block allegedly include KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu, Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle and Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini.

The report further indicates that deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila, a thorn on Zuma’s side, is positioned to take over from Nzimande as general secretary.

The SACP recently debated the matter of breaking away from the tripartite alliance during 2019 elections and contesting the elections on its own ticket owing to the current state capture scandal.

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