By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Malatji has challenged the South African Communist Party (SACP) to withdraw their deployees in the government of national unity (GNU).
ANCYL held a press briefing on the GNU and other developments in the country.
SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila has criticised the ANC for setting up a GNU that includes the DA. Mapaila said it showed the ANC was led by neo-liberals. This faction, he said, was led by Cyril Ramaphosa.
Malatji urged SACP and Mapaila to recall their leaders and members who accepted appointments in Ramaphosa’s executive.
SACP national chair Blade Nzimande serves as the minister of science, technology & innovation, while second deputy general secretary David Masondo is deputy finance minister. Other SACP members and leaders who serve in Ramaphosa’s executive include Buti Manamela and Polly Boshielo, who are deputy ministers of higher education and police, respectively.
Malatji contended that if Mapaila insisted the GNU was a sell-out structure, the SACP members should be recalled. “Anyone who has a problem with the structure of the GNU must immediately withdraw their deployees, prepare to win the next elections on their own so that they can implement things the way they feel they should be implemented, “said Malatji.
Having deployees in the executive while calling the GNU a sell-out was a populist stance, he said. “The Solly Mapaila we know, a product of the youth league and Cosas and many other structures of the movement, is brave. We know he will either agree with the ANC, honour the GNU, or he will immediately withdraw those from the SACP that are in the GNU so that we’re seeing action, contest elections on his own and stop being under the state of the ANC. Now that’s the bravery we want from the SACP; anything else is cowardice,” said Malatji.
Malatji denied that the SACP had been treated as a lesser partner of the tripartite alliance.
This follows accusations by the SACP that the ANC had not been completely honest with their alliance partners during the formation of the GNU.
“Let me remind you that the ANC was not given a full mandate by South Africans to govern on its own; that is why we found ourselves under GNU which includes the SACP,” he said.
Malatji also urged Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to deal with the matter urgently with the extortion rackets that demand so-called protection fees.
We must also address the concerning issue of extortions in the country, mainly in Gauteng, KZN and the Eastern Cape, which have been causing severe distress to local businesses and communities,” Malatji said.
“The rise in criminal activities aimed at extorting money from businesses is undermining economic stability and deterring investment in the region.
“The ANCYL calls for immediate and decisive action from law enforcement, and we urge Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu to take strong measures to deal with these criminals and restore safety and order in South Africa.”
He further said the ANCYL wants the government to strengthen border control mechanisms.
“It is imperative that we enforce strict border security to safeguard our country’s sovereignty and protect the interests of South African citizens.
“We will work with businesses and relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with labour laws, prioritising the employment of South African citizens.
“This is not merely a matter of legal adherence but a critical step towards reducing unemployment and ensuring that the economic benefits of our country are enjoyed by its own people,” he added.