30 August 2019
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Free State Province welcomes the outcomes of the municipal by-elections held at 15 wards in Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality. The outcomes, which included the election of 10 independent candidates, reflect the will and democratic preferences of the communities, expressed through a vote in line with the directive of the Freedom Charter principle that the people shall govern.
The SACP is not surprised by these Maluti-A-Phofung outcomes in which our ally, the African National Congress (ANC), lost 10 wards. The SACP maintains that this heavy loss of support was a direct result of the regrettable, reckless and arrogance-tinged decisions and path chosen by the ANC provincial leadership, including the arbitrary expulsion of public representatives who inevitably contested as independent candidates during the elections. The numerical and statistical evaluation of the results effectively proves that the ANC Free State leadership’s actions launched the ANC into war with itself.
The SACP is convinced that the ANC leadership in the Free State consciously and deliberately chose this path, with predictable far-reaching negative impact on the ANC and Alliance. Incidentally, numerous advices, pleas and interventions by the SACP for a sound political management of the situation – including the retention of the frivolously expelled councillors as its candidates – were persistently neglected or ignored. These actions compromised the ANC as the leader of the Alliance and society to seize the moment, rise above self-seeking egoistical calculations and unite the Alliance and society for joint efforts to restore stability and good governance at Maluti-A-Phofung.
The SACP urges the ANC and its leadership structures to make a candid reflection and make amends at Maluti-A-Phofung and beyond. In this regard the SACP reiterates the urgent call for an Alliance summit focusing on the state of governance in provincial departments and all municipalities in the province because Maluti-A-Phofung, like Metsimaholo Municipality, represents a tip of an iceberg.
Further, the SACP appreciates the patience of the people of Maluti-A-Phofung, for their restraint and ensuring peaceful by-elections when exercising their democratic right to vote, which the Independent Electoral Commission has a responsibility to protect by ensuring that all elections are held transparently, freely and fairly.
Lastly, the SACP urges all councillors of Maluti-A-Phofung to move with speed to stabilise the municipality, restore good governance, deliver high quality services to the communities and serve the people selflessly. The SACP will remain a dependable participant in all efforts aimed at robustly and genuinely fighting against maladministration and corruption as well as addressing challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Issued by the SACP Free State Province
Contact:
Bheke Stofile
SACP Free State Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 071 600 4899
Phillip Kganyago
SACP Free State Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 071 896 0157
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY | SACP
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