SACP split threatens ANC seats

The breakdown in relations between the Eastern Cape ANC and SA Communist Party took a turn for the worst when the SACP said it would field independent candidates in the upcoming local government elections.

The SACP in the Alfred Nzo region took the decision against the wishes of their provincial structure – arguing that their members were being sidelined in the ANC candidate selection processes.

As a tripartite alliance partner of the ruling party, the SACP – along with Cosatu – has traditionally thrown its weight behind the ANC in all the elections since 1994.

SACP Alfred Nzo regional secretary Phikolomzi Siramza told the Daily Dispatch that their decision to withdraw from the ANC’s nomination processes was taken a few weeks ago and they would contest wards in Bizana, Mzimvubu, Ntabankulu and Matatiele.

Siramza said the victimisation of their members in ANC branches – including the disappearance of their membership forms and disqualification of SACP members from participating in branch general meetings – left them no choice but to go it alone. The tensions between the alliance partners spilt over to the provincial ANC alliance summit held in East London at the weekend.

The matter came up during discussions on Monday afternoon, where SACP’s provincial secretary Xolile Nqatha appealed on the delegates to find a solution to ongoing tensions between the communists and the ruling party in the three regions – Alfred Nzo, Buffalo City and Amathole.

The situation is so bad that in areas such as Bizana and Matatiele, which lie on the borders with KZN, disgruntled groupings continue to convene separate meetings where they nominate their own candidates.

But ANC’s Alfred Nzo regional secretary Vukile Mhlelembana accused Siramza of being the root cause for the breakaway.

He said Siramza had demanded to be part of the elections committee even though he is currently serving as a councillor, and this was against ANC rules.

But Siramza said the ANC was in no position to choose who should be representing the SACP in the elections committee.

Earlier this year the SACP in Buffalo City also threatened not to take part in the ANC’s election campaign towards this year’s elections because they too had been left out of the nomination processes.

The alliance secretariat, including the ANC’s Phumulo Masualle, Oscar Mabuyane, SACP’s Nqatha and Mzoleli Mrara, as well as Cosatu and Sanco leaders are scheduled to go on a fact finding mission to all the affected regions.

Nqatha confirmed the issue of “hot spots” was discussed at the summit and that it “is a great concern for all components”.

“We will be visiting those areas to meet our structures and get all sorts of information and these characters. And then take it from there.

“We have not made any pronouncements because we still need to go on the ground and attend to those issues,” said Nqatha after the summit.

The ANC’s provincial secretary, Oscar Mabuyane, said they had sent out two teams already to Alfred Nzo to investigate the situation.

“ANC members know what to do when they are disputing BGM processes. There are committees to handle such things,” said Mabuyane.

The SACP in KZN made a similar call two months ago – threatening to also boycott the ANC’s nomination processes and field their own candidates.