SACP still committed to alliance with ANC despite differences

Despite the seemingly irreconcilable relations between the ANC and SACP, the communist party says it is still committed to the alliance and its unity. This at the end of a three-day plenary of its Central Committee meeting on Sunday.

At the heart of the political discourse between the two historical allies is the party’s decision to contest elections independently, a move some say is an effort  to liquidate the ANC.

The Love between historical allies the ANC and the SACP is on the rocks. Several meetings called to mend relations following the SACP’s decision to go it alone in future elections seemed to have failed.

At the heart of it is what the SACP calls ‘the ANC’s failure and refusal to reconfigure the alliance in more than 20 years’.

SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila says when they engage their ally on the subject, they are met with arrogance, only.

Although well aware of the political ramification the SACP decision could have on the ANC’s electoral prospects, party Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said he doesn’t see any chance of convincing the SACP on its stance.

But Mapaila says despite their differences, they are still committed to the unity of the alliance. He said asking for the reconfiguration of the alliance was not big ask from the ANC.

He has sketched out the kind of relationship they would want with their alliance partner.

Earlier former ANC President Thabo Mbeki was quoted as saying the reconfiguration posture adopted by the SACP is an attempt to introduce a new centre, which would replace the ANC.
He said they cannot agree to a situation where the leader of the National Democratic Revolution gets subjected to some entity like the reconfigured alliance.

But Mapaila says no one has the monopoly of the NDR.

This while the ANC is expected to hold its National Executive Committee meeting, later this week to reflect on among others, how its members and structures ought to relate with SACP on its relation to state power, the dual membership and other political developments in the country.

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