SACP Eastern Cape PEC Statement, 6 September 2021

6 September 2021

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Eastern Cape held its Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) Meeting attended by Central Committee Members, PEC Members together with District Secretaries and Chairpersons on 5 September 2021. The PEC Meeting received a report on the outcomes of the list process and other internal matters.

The PEC Meeting unanimously took a dim view with the manner in which the list process was handled and the extent to which Alliance structures were excluded from playing a meaningful role in the process. Among the key issues that received particular attention was the manner in which the list paid lip-service to academic capability, interviews and in some instances demonstrated gratuitous manipulation of lists.

In this regard, the Party supports the call made by Alliance partners and the ANC that there is a need for investigation of some of the infractions related to the list process and calls for that process to leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of some of these problems. Despite this, the Party in the Eastern Cape calls on all party militants to play an active role in the ANC led election campaign and to place the Party’s machinery to hegemony of the National Democratic Revolution.

The Party has noted some infractions that have pierced our internal organs and is committed to deal with these in a manner that is dignified, swift and meticulous. The Party reaffirmed its commitment to its Marxist-Leninist values underpinned by building working-class hegemony through exemplary behaviour and waging relentless war against any form of abuse of office by all cadres whatever their station.

It was with a sense of disgust that the Party woke up to salacious rumours about containing distorted versions of what took place within the organs of the Party and expressed disdain for these and those that peddle them. The Party called for those who are behind these leaks to be nipped in the bud and that the Party must close rank and not allow elements that seek to spread rumour of division within the highest organs of the Party.

Our meeting reaffirmed its support for the leadership collective led by the General Secretary of the SACP and insisted that any attempt to cause a wedge within our structures must be confronted ruthlessly. The meeting distanced the SACP Eastern Cape from any attempts for a palace coup within our organisation ostensibly camouflaged as an intention to deal with the issues around the suspended Director General of Higher Education.

Issued by Siyabonga Mdodi, SACP Provincial Spokesperson, 6 September 2021