South African Communist Party Insists on Unity

Delegates from the Young Communist League national conference in the Republic of South Africa. The YCL is the youth wing of the South African Communist Party., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Eastern Cape
Sep 25 2013 12:43PM

SACP insists on unity

The provincial SACP is calling for unity in the fight over Vavi’s future, saying that division weakens the federation
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Sithandiwe Velaphi

The SACP in the province has called on leaders of the tripartite alliance to work towards building unity in the ranks of Cosatu instead of weakening the federation.

Fresh from its sixth provincial congress in East London at the weekend, the SACP said its provincial executive committee expressed its principled view of respecting Cosatu’s internal processes.

Their statement comes as some Cosatu affiliates have written to the federation’s president, Sdumo Dlamini, calling for a special congress.

It has been reported that Cosatu’s special congress will decide the fate of Dlamini and suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

In Queenstown, Vavi’s home town, members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), under the banner of Fight Back Vavi-Ntola campaign, have also written to Dlamini calling for a special congress.

Dlamini has said the congress could not just be held at any time because it is costly.

Sadtu regional chairperson in Queenstown, Aaron Mhlontlo, said the decision to suspend Vavi and their president Thobile Ntola was “illegal and baseless” as it was taken without consultation with lower structures.

SACP provincial spokesperson Siyabonga Mdodi said: “We are opposed to any efforts by individual leaders or groups within the federation to mobilise support outside Cosatu against Cosatu.”

“Whether it is the SACP or an individual affiliate of Cosatu, none should seek to substitute the role of the federation as that does not serve the interest of unifying the federation but weakening it,” Mdodi said.

“It is in this context that we call on all those who have issues to raise about the SACP to approach the SACP for engagement as shouting at each other will not help in building the unity our revolution so desires at this time.”

“Any fragmentation of our revolutionary alliance can only mean the defeat of the National Democratic Revolution and the postponement of the Socialist South Africa.

“We call for the alliance-agreed processes to be speeded up to deal with economic questions of the political moment as bases for tackling the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.”

velaphis@thenewage.co.za