The South African Communist Party (SACP) has come out in support of its National Chairperson Professor Blade Nzimande who is also the Minister of Science and Innovation in the Government of National Unity.
This comes in the wake of the SACP’s opposition to the African National Congress (ANC)-led GNU, and also having resolved to contest the 2026 local elections independently.
Some people have criticised the party’s position, even saying its leaders in the GNU must quit. They include among others Nzimande and Deputy Finance Minister Dr David Masondo.
SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila says no SACP member should leave the government. He says Nzimande is an independent thinker whose credibility as a communist cannot be questioned.
“As a cadre of the movement in his own right, he knows how to make certain things lean towards the working class and the poor primarily which the ANC cannot oppose. So that’s the basis and so there should be no attacks on him either from inside the SACP or from anywhere. And this thing that people must leave government, no there is nothing like that. We are still in the alliance, we took a decision to support the ANC in an election. We have revoked that decision now we have the right to revoke that decision. It was taken by the Central Committee and now in this case taken by the Congress but after 22 years of engagement. We will give a report to comrades about this question of the reconfiguration of the alliance, the extent where it comes from because we have been patient enough on this matter.”
SACP leader addresses media ahead of 5th Special National Congress
SACP 5th Special National Congress
