ANC, SACP differences to top the agenda as their top brass meet

[FILE IMAGE]: SACP leader Blade Nzimande and ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa during the 15th SACP National Congress today, 15 July 2022.

2 minutes

Top ANC officials including President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy, Paul Mashatile will meet with the SACP leadership on Sunday morning.

The much-awaited ANC-SACP bilateral will discuss the strained relations between the two alliance partners.

Their recent dissension stems from the ANC’s decision to work with the DA in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The SACP through its Secretary-General Solly Mapaila has been scathing on the Ramaphosa leadership, saying it cannot work with the DA which is diametrically opposed to the National Democratic Revolution.

But ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says they are not taking kindly to Mapaila’s outburst and have sought an audience with him and his party.

“We have noted the recent public statements by the SACP which appeared to challenge the ANC leadership and particularly target President Cyril Ramaphosa. While the ANC respects the SACP as a key ally, we believe that the differences within the alliance should be managed internally with the appropriate decorum. We are having a scheduled bilateral meeting with the South African Communist Party. We wish to not dictate the Communist Party’s dissent on the question of the Government of National Unity, but the perpetual attack and campaign to annihilate the leadership of the ANC … that is worrisome.”

SACP Spokesperson and Central Committee member, Dr Alex Mashilo on the other hand, says they are all pinning their hopes on the meeting.

“That bilateral is crucial. It is the first formal bilateral between the SACP and the ANC following the May 29, 2024 elections. At this bilateral, we are hoping to iron out and clarify the different perspectives we have shared in the public. Let’s make one thing quite clear for instance, if the ANC meets and makes decisions, announces and implements those decisions in public, the SACP cannot be expected to express its views behind closed doors. We also have to meet and make decisions, announce them and implement them publicly. So, that’s one thing that we will be making clear,” says Mashilo.