SACP GAUTENG PROVINCE ON THE ATTACKS AGAINST THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE SACP, CDE BLADE NZIMANDE
South African Communist Party (SACP), Gauteng Province held a Provincial Working Committee (PWC), which is a constitutional structure that meets in between the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meetings. PWC discussed a range of issues, but focused mostly on the challenges facing the South African Communist Party and the Alliance.
To this end, PWC noted a series of factional, unprincipled and opportunistic attacks against our General Secretary, Comrade Blade Nzimande and the entire leadership of the SACP.
We also noted media reports, notably the Sunday Independent alleging that the Provincial Chairperson of Gauteng Cde Kolisile Nkosiphendule is in the "forefront" of a plot to topple the General Secretary (see here).
In this regard, the Provincial Chairperson distances himself from such allegations and reaffirmed his unwavering and principled support to the leadership of the SACP and its General Secretary. In the same vein, as the PWC, we distance the SACP in Gauteng from the same malicious reports and allegations.
In analyzing these developments, these attacks by a coalition of a small, highly organized but destructive and dangerous faction within the broad movement, which the SACP characterized as the New Tendency, are a direct attack on the ANC and the Alliance it leads.
Furthermore, the PWC noted that the recent attacks against the SACP General Secretary are a continuation of the same but dismally failed attacks prior to the 2009 SACP Special National Congress in Turfloop calling for the General Secretary to resign as a Minister of Higher Education.
This was followed by yet another failed attempt to disrupt the National Congress of the Young Communist League held in Mafikeng in December 2010.
Recently, we saw extremely pathetic, desperate and degenerate efforts to use legitimate demands of working class students to humiliate and embarrass the General Secretary, as the Minister of Higher Education.
The SACP in Gauteng strongly condemns and dismisses with contempt the malicious and sensational reports about the General Secretary and strongly believe that like the rest of the previous attempts, this factions and groupings will also fail, and just like their predecessors will be rejected by the South African working class.
We are fully united behind the Central Committee led by our General Secretary and strongly warn any grouping or faction against using our province to attack the SACP and its leadership.
We wish to reaffirm the Medium-Term Vision and the decisions of the SACP to contest the hegemony and character of the state as the most essential content of the National Democratic Revolution and the socialist programme. PWC wish to caution against a casual and liberal approach towards the state as the highest concentration of power, especially in a capitalist country such as ours.
PWC also commend the General Secretary on the good work done in building a Department of Higher Education as the most direct and important step towards achieving the principal objective of Free Higher Education. The achievement of Free Higher Education is not an event, but a process that we firmly on track. We further believe the ANC government has not betrayed the working class on this matter.
PWC reaffirmed its commitment to work tirelessly and consistently to defend the unity of the SACP and all its structures led by the General Secretary. We will not leave a single space in our province for any person, faction or grouping, internal or external to fight the SACP, its leadership and programme of action.
Statement on behalf of the SACP Gauteng PWC by Acting Provincial Secretary: Jacob Mamabolo, March 28 2011
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