SACP General Secretary Blade Nzimande says factionalism will be the cause of the ANC's downfall.
FILE: SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande. Picture: Kgothatso Mogale/EWN
Dineo Bendile | 2 days ago
JOHANNESBURG – The South African Communist Party (SACP) says if African National Congress (ANC) leaders are unable to deal with factionalism they should be prepared for the party's downfall.
The SACP held a central committee meeting in Kempton Park at the weekend where it called on leaders to speak out publically against factionalism.
SACP General Secretary Blade Nzimande says factionalism will be the cause of the ANC's downfall.
"I can tell you, if we can't find an answer to it we must begin to kiss our movement goodbye."
The party's Solly Mapaila says ANC leaders need to take a firmer stance against divisions.
"None of the ANC officials has condemned the Premier League openly and to stop them from being a faction in the ANC."
The SACP says the ANC has endured tough times before and must not fail to find a solution to disunity within its ranks.
SACP WON'T ASK ZUMA TO STEP DOWN
The SACP's deputy Secretary General Jeremy Cronin said the organisation cannot call for President Jacob Zuma to step down as that decision is ultimately up to the ANC.
The SACP said calls by the ANC Youth League to have an early elective conference were informed by internal factionalism and has instead suggested a consultative gathering to work on relations in the alliance.
Cronin says one of the lessons they learnt in 2007, ahead of Polokwane, where former president Thabo Mbeki stepped down, is not to get too involved in the politics.
"I think one of the mistakes that the party made that in 2007 is that we got too embroiled as the party in the party politics of the ANC and I think that's one of the lessons that we need to learn as the Communist Party.
"Obviously the majority of us are also ANC and we've every right as ANC members to contribute to internal discussions within the ANC."
Meanwhile, the SACP said if the ANC doesn't take quick action to fix internal issues, public support is likely to decline at an accelerated pace.
Nzimande said it's disappointing that the NEC's post-election statement regurgitated old challenges affecting the ANC instead of reigniting confidence in supporters.
"What the majority of South Africans are hoping for is a clear sign of willingness to act decisively against these morbid symptoms."
The central committee said it recommits itself to working towards uniting the ruling party and its alliance partners.
It has called for a special conference before the ANC's national conference next year to reflect on past mistakes and listen to criticism.
"What the majority of South Africans are hoping for is a clear sign of willingness to act decisively against these morbid symptoms."
The central committee said it recommits itself to working towards uniting the ruling party and its alliance partners.
It has called for a special conference before the ANC's national conference next year to reflect on past mistakes and listen to criticism.
http://ewn.co.za/2016/08/29/ANC-needs-to-deal-with-factionalism-now-before-it-rips-the-party-apart