The ANC has instructed members holding both SACP and ANC membership to choose sides as preparations for local government elections begin
Image: IOL / Independent Newspapers
The ANC has directed its members to choose between it and the SACP for the local government election campaigns ahead of the ballot later this year.
The SACP, at its national conference in 2023, took a resolution to contest the elections outside of the ANC, deviating from the historical relationship that formed the basis of their century-old alliance.
At the weekend, the party dispatched all its National Executive Committee (NEC) members to meet the regions through the country to communicate the party position on the SACP’s decision to contest elections.
Although Luthuli House is expected to outline the decision in a media briefing on Monday, a regional leader in KwaZulu-Natal, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ANC’s message was that its members, especially those holding dual membership, must choose which party they will campaign and vote for in the upcoming elections.
Among the leaders who visited Kwazulu-Natal on Sunday were the party’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile who addressed the eThekwini region and chairperson Gwede Mantashe who was deployed in the Moses Mabhida region (Pietermaritzburg).
The ANC insider said that those members who prefer the SACP over the ANC, would have to write letters to the leadership and excuse themselves from participating in the election teams of the ANC. They would also not be considered for deployment to positions in municipalities to represent the ANC.
“We have been directed to choose one side and stick to it until after elections. It will be then that the ANC will decide its future relationship with the SACP. For now the alliance still exists but we are not clear what will happen after elections,” said the regional leader.
He said the ANC had also issued a warning that a member, found campaigning for the SACP while failing to declare this, would be immediately expelled. He said the party would make a decision on the issue of dual membership after the elections.
The SACP's national spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday, however, the SACP's KwaZulu-Natal interim secretary Sikhumbuzo Mdlalose, said the party would have a problem with its members choosing the ANC over the SACP.
Mdlalose said the party did not have an issue with James Nxumalo, a senior member of the SACP was recently appointed as the coordinator of the ANC provincial task team in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mdlalose, however, warned against mudslinging during the campaigns, saying the two parties 'must protect their historical relationship as they may need each other after elections'.
“At the centre of the SACP’s interest is the advancement of the National Democratic Revolution that articulates the full implementation of the Freedom Charter... and that advances to socialism. Our attitude towards elections and dual membership is based on how we regard the importance of the strategic role of the alliance before, during and after elections,” said Mdlalose.
The SACP’s resolution to contest elections outside the ANC has also divided workers affiliated to Cosatu. The federation which is also a member of the Tripartite Alliance, is yet to pronounce on who it will support and campaign for. Ideologically, Cosatu is aligned with the SACP because of their pro-socialism stance.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za