SACP deputy denounces Number One

SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin, left, and Blade Nzimande at the party's 13th congress. Picture: Boxer Ngwenya

SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin, left, and Blade Nzimande at the party's 13th congress. Picture: Boxer Ngwenya

Published Aug 27, 2016

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Johannesburg - The SACP said it was only logical that President Jacob Zuma must shoulder some of the blame for the ANCs decline in support in the recent local government elections, including the loss of three metros to DA-led coalitions.

The party said it was also disappointed by the ANC national executive committee’s response to the loss of decline in support.

The SACP’s central committee is meeting for the first time since the elections and is expected to take a strong stance on the reasons the ANC had experienced its worst electoral performance since 1994.

Deputy general-secretary Jeremy Cronin said on Friday the party was doubtful whether the ANC had the capacity to arrest what has been a consistent decline of support.

Cronin said while the results could not be attributed to a single factor, there were serious issues directly related to the president.

While the SACP has refrained from an outright call for Zuma to step down, the party said it was clear that opposition parties had capitalised on the weaknesses directly related to Zuma. “It is no secret that the opposition parties ran their campaigns... on national issues, especially the clumsy manner with which the ANC handled the Nkandla matter for instance and other things.

“The leadership of the ANC and the leader of the ANC need to acknowledge that there are presidential issues, like Nkandla and throw-away remarks about 'clever blacks' which were unwise...,” said Cronin.

“This central meeting was preceded by a meeting of the political bureau and certainly at that level, officials are disappointed by the nature of the position taken by the NEC... about what was not said.

“This is against the background that for many years now the ANC has very accurately identified what the problems are which include the growing gap between the mass base and the political elite within the ANC and the problems of corruption, gate-keeping and manipulation of membership lists,” said Cronin.

He said the party would discuss the recent discussions on the call for an early conference, but warned the party would only support such a call if it was based on the principle of “refreshing” the ANC leadership.

Saturday Star

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