SOLLY Mapaila has been elected unopposed as the new general secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) at the party’s 15th national congress in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
Mapaila, who was the second deputy general secretary from 2012 to 2017, is the former member of ANC’s military wing, Umkhonto weSizwe, in which he operated outside of South Africa before 1994.
He has also been very vocal in his contempt for corruption and was among the key party leaders who called for former president Jacob Zuma to resign before the end of his term.
Mapaila takes over from Blade Nzimande after 25 years at the helm of the party.
Nzimande was elected as the SACP’s national chairperson.
Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo was elected unopposed as the Second Deputy General Secretary, while Joyce Moloi-Moropa retained her position as SACP National Treasurer.
Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi retained his position as deputy chairperson of the party.
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