Durban - The SACP in KwaZulu-Natal has laid bare crippling tensions in the tripartite alliance, claiming it learnt of plans to recall former premier Senzo Mchunu nearly two months ago, when the move was presented to the alliance as a done deal.
This claim flies in the face of an ANC statement that the nomination of newly-appointed Premier Willies Mchunu followed “a consultation with the tripartite alliance … which also endorsed the proposal made by the leader of the alliance, the ANC”.
SACP provincial secretary, Themba Mthembu, made the startling claim on Wednesday, shaking the foundation of the alliance in the province.
Mthembu said Senzo Mchunu’s ousting first emerged at the meeting of the alliance partners on March 31 in preparation for the alliance summit adjourned two days later.
The ANC in KZN had confirmed on Monday that Mchunu was asked to resign after assessment of the KZN government.
But the SACP feels it had been lied to when the assessment was done.
Mthembu said the handling of the recall of Mchunu had strained relations within the alliance.
“The alliance relations are being shaken. We need to go back and finish the business we were supposed to do,” he said in reference to the adjourned alliance meeting.
Khaye Nkwanyana, SACP executive member, said the party was concerned that some in the party had called on the communists to break away from the alliance, and that this had passed without condemnation from the ruling party.
“To us it represents that such a statement has support in the leadership of the ANC,” he said.