Johannesburg - A public spat between the ANC and SACP’s youth wings over the governing party’s succession debate and President Jacob Zuma is stroking tension in the tripartite alliance.
On Wednesday, the Young Communist League (YCL) issued a statement accusing the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) of factionalism after the latter called for the suspension of SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande. The ANCYL had accused Nzimande of failing to play by the rules on succession talks after he apparently insinuated that the SACP was “tired” of defending Zuma.
The YCL said the ANCYL's call for Nzimande to be suspended was “factional and a piece of rubbish”.
The open war of words, although nothing new, comes at a crucial time for the tripartite alliance heading into next year’s local government elections, when the ANC will need to put up a united front.
It also comes at a time of unhappiness in Cosatu over government pension reforms that saw the union federation threaten not to campaign for the ANC if the policy was not reversed.
YCL KwaZulu-Natal chairman Sandile Dayi likened the ANCYL’s attack on Nzimande and the YCL to what had happened during EFF leader Julius Malema’s time, which “ultimately divided both the ANC and the ANCYL”.
He said the YCL was disturbed by the misrepresentation and distortion of statements he had made to the SACP provincial council.
The YCL reiterated that it would be irresponsible to buy a R4 billion jet for Zuma when gross domestic product growth was just 1.2 percent, with high levels of income inequality, poverty and unemployment.
“This kind of spending resembles that of (military dictator) Mobutu Sese Seko, who lived a comfortable life at the expense of ordinary Congolese,” said Dayi.
“Therefore, we are opposed to this senseless spending. We view this as a slap in the face of those who languish in poverty, especially after the controversy relating to the R246 million spent in the name of Nkandla security upgrades.”
Dayi said the YCL was threatened whenever it brought up key issues which affected the reputation of the movement.
“The YCL will continue to raise issues without fear or favour, and no factional declarations of 'defence' in the name of the president will ever threaten us,” he added.
The YCL said that if there was any succession debate, it was opened by those who had said they were ready for a woman president - a veiled reference to the ANC Women’s League, which has adopted this resolution.
The women and youth leagues have been accused of advancing the agenda of a powerful bloc made up of the of premiers of Mpumalanga, Free State and North West, who want their candidates to take over the ANC in 2017.
Dayi said all Nzimande had said was “it is wrong that our movement must experience turmoil every time it enters into a period of leadership transition, as happened towards Polokwane”.
He said the party stood by “this clear leadership content without fear or favour and in no uncertain terms”.
It called on Zuma to come out against people who divided the alliance using his name.
“The president must not allow the movement to be divided in his name, for he has been renowned as a leader who defended the alliance and fought against the marginalisation of the communists and class-conscious workers.
“The president must remain true to these attributes, act consistently, oppose zigzagging, and build and unite the ANC and the alliance.”
YCL will continue to raise issues without fear
The Star
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