By Thapelo Molefe
Tensions between the African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP), have increased following comments by the SACP’s Solly Mapaile criticising the ANC’s decision to work with the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The general secretary referred to the ANC as “sellouts” earlier this year. His comments were promptly rebuked by ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula, who described them as unfortunate and insulting.
However, Mapaile stood by his statements on Monday, insisting that they were truthful and based on facts.
“The point is nothing is untruthful about what I said, and he makes wrong assumptions and even conclusions,” Mapaile said.
The controversy centres around the ANC’s decision to collaborate with the DA under the guise of a government of national unity, which the SACP vehemently opposes.
Mapaile argues that the SACP was not consulted about the decision, but rather informed after the fact, indicating a lack of collective decision-making within the alliance.
“So, if we were informed it’s an ANC decision, it’s not a collective decision. We rejected that position from the beginning,” Mapaile said.
The SACP has long been a critical voice within the tripartite alliance, which also includes the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
The party’s rejection of the ANC’s decision to work with the DA highlights a deepening rift between the two organisations.
“Only the secretariat of the alliance and even in that secretariat of the alliance together with Cosatu, we did not agree to this notion of government of national unity…,” Mapaile said.
Mbalula has said that Mapaile was not the branch of ANC, and therefore he could speak his mind.
“Remember what we are critical of in terms of him making claims like the ANC is neoliberal, the president of the ANC is leading a faction that is dominant. Allies don’t speak like that, but the ANC cannot force [the] Communist Party to agree with us about our perspective about the GNU,” Mbalula said.
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