The South African Communist Party (SACP) has ordered its members to disregard the ANC’s instruction for those with dual membership to state in writing which party they will campaign for in the upcoming local government elections. This comes after the ANC instructed those with dual membership to submit in writing which party they will be campaigning for within the next ten days.
Dual Membership Row Escalates
The SACP has taken a resolution that it will contest the local government elections as a stand-alone political party, which has made the ANC uneasy. Head of Media, Communications and Information in the SACP, Mbulelo Mandlana, said: “We want to state clearly that we reject the press conference that was called by the ANC, as it seeks to disenfranchise members of their right to dual membership. We call on our members not to comply with that instruction.”
Mandlana described the instruction as “unfounded and unjust”, adding that it ignores the reality that dual membership is the basis of the alliance. He addressed a variety of issues, including the allegations that senior leaders had resigned from their leadership roles in the party following the instruction, and concerns that the SACP will not do well in the elections.
Leadership Denies Resignations
According to the South African Government website, the SACP is a key player in the country’s political landscape. Mandlana said: “It is not true that leaders have resigned; that is just gossip,” he said, responding to reports that Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela had resigned from his leadership role in the SACP. On the party’s poor showing in by-elections, he said it is incorrect to use by-elections as a measure of how they will perform in the upcoming local government elections.
An ANC councillor and SACP member in eThekwini said those with dual membership were unlikely to comply with the ANC directive. “They will simply look at the instruction and ignore it,” he conceded that the party is facing challenges. “There are other parts of eThekwini where the SACP has been strong but is now facing challenges after the death of some of our leaders in those areas.”
Here are some key points to consider:
- The SACP has rejected the ANC’s instruction on dual membership
- The party will contest the local government elections as a stand-alone political party
- Dual membership is a key aspect of the alliance between the SACP and the ANC
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the ANC and the SACP will navigate this complex issue. For more information on the SACP, visit the Wikipedia page on the party.
