The South African Communist Party (SACP) announced at its fifth special national conference that begins in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni metro on Wednesday, that it will review its relationship with the ANC and assert its independence in the alliance.
The four-day rally comes at a time when the ANC-led alliance, which also includes COSATU, SACP and SANCO, is facing a number of challenges. These range from, among other things, the ANC's declining electoral performance to growing voter disillusionment.
Another issue that has strained the alliance is the addition of the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the ANC-led national unity government. The SACP claimed that this was in direct opposition to the Alliance's national action plan, the National Democratic Revolution.
SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila said: “We had informed the ANC that as a party we had taken the decision to contest the local elections. So now, officially, this has been communicated to the ANC. Therefore. , this issue will also be discussed in one of the discussions at the January meeting.”
“sold out”
A sign that all is not well within the alliance. For the first time since 1994, the SACP, which has supported the ANC in every election to date, has vowed to draw votes from the same pot as its traditional ally, the ANC.
The rift between the two historic alliances was due to the ANC's failure to secure a reconstituted alliance over two decades and its recent coalition with the DA in the National Unity Government. Yes, Mr Mapaila declared the ANC “sold out”. '.
He also said there will be a front organization with its own logo or known within the community, and that all other decisions will be finalized at the meeting.
The ANC does not take this lightly and Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has previously said that while it respects the SACP as an independent organization, it has warned against this stance as it has serious implications for the wider alliance. .
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said: “We will approach that decision in terms of its impact on the alliance and we have warned against it.” This alliance will have far-reaching implications in terms of future ally partnership. ”
Mr Mbalula said ANC vice-president Paul Mashatile would lead the delegation at the SACP's fifth special national conference.
