ANC criticises SACP as tensions rise before the Conference of the Left

The escalation of tensions between the ANC and its Tripartite Alliance partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP), was again laid bare when Fikile Mbalula addressed the media on Tuesday, criticising the SACP-led Conference of Left. 

The ANC secretary-general heavily criticised the SACP for organising a conference with leftist parties and unions, and described the event, which will take place in Boksburg on Friday, as “the so-called Conference of the Left”.

The conference will feature political parties such as the EFF, Socialist Party of Azania, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Azanian People's Organisation, and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and its theme is “Building a Left Movement for Working-Class & Popular Power”. 

Among the speakers would be SACP First Deputy General Secretary Madala Masuku, EFF’s Julius Malema, and MKP chairperson Nathi Nhleko. 

Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi and NUMSA’s General Secretary Irvin Jim are also listed as speakers.

Mbalula stated that the ANC would not participate in the conference, despite receiving an invitation.

He said the conference will aim to gang up against the ANC.

“It is a coalition of negation — united by what it stands against, namely the African National Congress in government — and unable to articulate the positive programme by which the working class and the people would advance under its banner. 

“It is a political project dressed in theoretical clothing.”

He said the ANC has invited the SACP to discuss at a principal level issues, which he said were underlying questions, in the standing discipline of the alliance. 

“We say openly to our country: the African National Congress does not consider this convening to be a Conference of the Left.” 

He described the political parties and unions, which he claimed to be leftist, as failing to act in that capacity, as they would be sitting alongside business formations.

He said leaders of some participating parties were identified by the Zondo Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture as central to the wrecking of South African institutions that the ANC built.

Tension between the parties became clearer when the SACP decided to contest the elections on its own.

SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana reacted sharply to Mbalula’s criticisms of the conference, saying the ANC was contradicting its previous stance.

“The ANC was invited to the Conference of the Left, and they were engaging with us all along, and there was not a time when the ANC professed to be ideologically opposed or believed that there was something wrong with the conference.

“On the contrary, this is not a matter that the SACP has dealt with in isolation, as it has been raised to the ANC in previous years,” said Mandlana.

He said the idea of creating a left front was the ANC and SACP’s resolution.

“Now if the ANC looks at the Conference of the Left negatively, that is unfortunate, it is not an honest way of engagement, as the Conference of the Left is about progressive organisations, and it is not a socialist meeting and not an alliance meeting.” 

He said when the SACP and ANC first proposed to convene the Conference of the Left, there was no idea of forming another alliance. 

He said that when the ANC started to drag its feet in organising the conference, the SACP took the initiative to drive it forward. 

“The only difference between that time and now is that the ANC decided that they will no longer participate much more directly in convening the Conference of the Left and driving the process and discussion about what the Conference of the Left is about.

“The SACP has been engaging with them since the beginning of the year, and this conference has been postponed twice,” said Mandlana. 

Reacting to Mbalula's criticism of the conference involving business leaders, Mandlana said no monopoly capital has been invited.

“The ideological framework of the people making these statements is problematic, as we must make a distinction between the bourgeoisie, as a class oppressing the working class, and small business operators who essentially function in the working class space in the survival economy.

“No one can say small holders affiliated with NAFCOC (National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry), which is the only union of black business small operators, should not join the conference, as this is a dangerous generalisation,” said Mandlana.  

Meanwhile, former minister Bheki Cele and Sisisi Tolashe, an expelled minister, will be hauled to the ANC’s disciplinary committee following the party’s Integrity Commission’s (IC) findings against them and three other party members.  

Mbalula revealed this following the party’s National Executive Committee’s regular meeting held on Monday. 

Cele, an NEC member and former police minister, has been in the headlines for many wrong reasons, including his confession at the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee to rubbing shoulders with controversial murder suspect and alleged drug cartel leader Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Tolashe from his Cabinet following allegations linked to two vehicles intended for the ANC Women’s League.

“The NEC shall refer all five matters to the National Disciplinary Committee of the African National Congress for action under the constitutional disciplinary process of the ANC, with the NEC itself serving as the complainant,” Mbalula said.

Others found wanting by the IC are ANC’s Sedibeng regional secretary, Jason Mkhwane, Thanduxolo Khalipa, and Sthembiso Zungu. 

Mbalula commended the IC for fearlessly investigating the conduct of its members and for its discipline.

[email protected]