SACP eyes ANC’s January 8 bash despite rising tensions

THE SACP intends to participate in the ANC's January 8 celebrations at the weekend despite plans to contest its alliance partner during the local government elections later this year. 

Scheduled for Saturday, January 10, at the Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg, the event marks the anniversary of the ANC's founding in 1912 and traditionally features messages of support from various alliance partners, including the Congress of the South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the SACP itself.

This year’s celebrations come at a time when relations between the ANC and SACP have been strained by the communist party’s decision to forge ahead with plans to contest the local government elections. 

This move was met with a hardline response from ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, who announced that SACP members would be barred from holding dual membership and participating in ANC election-related platforms.

Nehawu also recently resolved at its central executive committee (CEC) meeting that it will embark on a massive elections campaign in support of the SACP.

SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana said on Sunday his party will be part of the festivities this weekend.

“The SACP is committed to participating in the alliance activities and working to improve alliance coordination and alliance relations, " Mandlana stated. 

On the SACP's policy position to contest the elections independently, Mandlana said the SACP will continue to engage the ANC on its decision to exclude its members from strategic meetings even though the party will not be swayed or reconsider its policy directive.

"The SACP is confident that the path it has taken is the correct path. The members of the Communist Party in their wisdom are going to stick to the resolutions taken. For us there is still a need to differentiate between the words in the speech of the president (Cyril Ramaphosa) and the overall outcome of the NGC of the ANC, because as far as we are concerned, there are some differences between the two, and it is necessary that our ongoing dialogue should continue to clarify those overlaps," he stated.

Political analyst, Thobani Zikala said the escalation of tensions between the two has the potential to spill over to Saturday's anniversary celebrations.

"I think it would be problematic for the SACP to go to the ANC's January 8th statement as an ally, or to go there to try to force the ANC’s supporters to see their line of thinking around elections, because it's clear that the ANC will not understand it," Zikalala said.

Political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, said: "The ongoing tensions are going to hurt the ANC following the recent elections and now with the SACP, also contesting the elections, this will be worse. My gut feeling is that the SACP will walk away with COSATU from the alliance, leaving the ANC more vulnerable." 

Cape Times