ANC, SACP and Cosatu condemn heckling

SACP deputy secretary Solly Mapaila was heckled at an event to mark the assassination of SACP stalwart, Chris Hani. File picture: David Ritchie/Independent Media

SACP deputy secretary Solly Mapaila was heckled at an event to mark the assassination of SACP stalwart, Chris Hani. File picture: David Ritchie/Independent Media

Published Apr 20, 2017

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Durban – The leadership of the ANC, SACP and Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal has condemned recent acts of booing and heckling of leaders.

Holding a joint media briefing, the KZN secretaries of the organisations said while differing views are always present in the alliance, acts of ill discipline undermine the “revolutionary integrity of of the movement and its leadership”.

This condemnation comes in the wake of the heckling of SACP deputy secretary Solly Mapaila at an event to mark the assassination of SACP stalwart, Chris Hani.

The alliance in KwaZulu-Natal is also planning a memorial service for Hani to be held on Saturday at the Curries Fountain stadium.

SACP general-secretary Blade Nzimande will address the event.

“It is our shared view that any difficulties facing our movement currently are short term but we need to manage them properly to avoid long term negative consequences,” ANC provincial secretary Super Zuma said.

Cosatu and the SACP in KZN downplayed any talk of divisions but maintained that they also believed Jacob Zuma should step down as the president of the country.

Themba Mthembu, the provincial secretary of the SACP said the decision pronounced by the national leadership of the SACP was binding to all provincial structures. He said this however did not mean there are divisions.

He said differing views have been in the alliance for a very long time. What is important is how these are managed.

“The Alliance has remained strong because this alliance respects the independence of each component. We allow each component to influence other components. Organisationally we still believe that we remain united”.

Cosatu provincial secretary, Edwin Mkhize echoed the sentiments saying: “There is one Cosatu and once Cosatu at national level pronounces itself then the provincial structures must take the line and implement the decisions. Our position is well known around the issue of the president”.

Zuma said the ANC will soon be meeting with the ANC to deal with the deadly tensions between the SACP and ANC members in Intshanga.

The Mercury

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