By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The long-standing relationship between the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) has come under the spotlight following the conclusion of ANC’s 55th National Conference.
In recent years, the tripartite alliance has shown cracks as the government and labour have failed to reach a consensus on a number of issues involving public sector workers.
The SACP is ANC’s alliance partner, alongside the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila previously criticised the ruling party that the throne in the liberation movement headed by the ANC is vacant.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has now criticised ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula over his comments regarding a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking at the Joe Slovo commemoration event held in Soweto on Friday, Mapaila slammed Mbalula, saying that conversations around a Cabinet reshuffle were being held without consulting the tripartite alliance.
“I hear comrade Fikile, he pronounces there are debates about the reshuffle of Cabinet. I do not know about that. I am general secretary of the SACP, where does he get that mandate?
“It is these things that are disrespectful to us. We will not accept these tendencies because why are we here? That somebody takes decisions on their own and imposes them on us? We are not that party. That time has come and passed,” he said.
Earlier in the week, Mbalula indicated that the ANC will resolve the cabinet reshuffle matter in two weeks.
In response to the cabinet reshuffle talks, President Cyril Ramaphosa says he “will apply his mind” to a possible reshuffle and announce his decision afterwards.
Ramaphosa said he understood that the topic of a change in his executive was top of mind for many people after the ANC’s national conference in December.
But, at the party’s golf day celebrations in Bloemfontein on Friday, he said he needed time.
“Wait for the moment when the president has applied his mind and stop asking when is that going to happen. The president will apply his mind, and as always, we will be coming to you all and the nation and telling you what will happen. Relax, have a cup of coffee, sit back and watch this space,” Ramaphosa told the media ahead of golf day activities at the Bloemfontein Golf Club.
With regards to the conference, which began from December 16 to 20, and concluded this morning in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, Ramaphosa said the conference was a success.
The golf day involved golfers, leaders of the ANC, ministers, deputy ministers, premiers, MECs, and executive mayors.
“I would say that the ANC is well prepared to take the lives of our people further and better. All that remains now is the action, the implementation, which we are now going to focus on,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the ANC was renewing itself.
“The ANC is renewing itself, and once that happens, it really becomes a formidable force, the mighty force that it has always been, and that’s exactly what we are going to be focusing on,” he said.
Ramaphosa said they emerged from this conference with a sense of great renewal.
“We are more united than we’ve been in the last conference, with everyone having a sense that they accept and work with the leadership that has been elected. So everybody is going to coalesce around this leadership as we tackle the many challenges that lie ahead. We are really pleased with the year,” Ramaphosa said.
He said the decisions that they have taken (in the conference) are going to give a lot of hope to the people.
Mapaila also warned that the tripartite alliance could collapse if not reconfigured and this will lead to the SACP challenging the ANC in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
“If the alliance remains not reconfigured [and] if there’s no tangible progress towards the reconfiguration process [then] the SACP has already taken a decision,” he said.
The ANC-led alliance has in the recent past been fraught with challenges over decision-making and government’s policy direction, with calls for the reconfiguration of the partnership.
“It is not personal, it’s about collective leadership. Let’s exercise political leadership and collective accountability.
“If you do it on your own, account to the people and leave us out. If you want an alliance, you must show appreciation for the alliance,” Mapaila continued.