Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal SACP has vowed to defend President Jacob Zuma’s State-of-the-Nation address next month from the “hooligans” of the Economic Freedom Fighters, who have threatened to disrupt the speech.
The SACP, which concluded its provincial conference in uMzimkhulu last week, said they would not stand by while the EFF turned Parliament into a circus.
Themba Mthembu, who was re-elected provincial secretary, said while they planned to educate the EFF about peace and democracy in an effort to change their ways, they also had plans to organise mass protests against them if need be.
According to weekend reports, EFF leader Julius Malema wrote to National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete requesting her to convene a special sitting of Parliament so that Zuma could complete answering questions on the date and time he would repay at least some of the money spent on the R215-million upgrades at his private home in Nkandla.
If Mbete did not call a special sitting, Malema reportedly said that his party would have “no other option but to insist that President Jacob Zuma answer the questions at the State-of-the-Nation address.”
Mthembu said Malema’s threat should come as no surprise. “That is the only thing they know and can master, the politics of anarchy. They have nothing to offer South Africa other than turning our national assembly into a circus... We are warning the EFF that there will be nothing that can stop us from doing our national responsibility of protecting our democratic institutions,” Mthembu said.
The provincial SACP re-elected eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo as its chairperson and his deputy in the city, Nomvuzo Shabalala, as its deputy chairwoman.
Mthembu threw scorn over concerns about Nxumalo continuing to run for the position of eThekwini regional chairman of the ANC while also being eThekwini mayor and chairman of the SACP.
Mthembu said various leaders in the ANC held roles in the ANC, SACP and in government, pointing out that ANC General Secretary, Gwede Mantashe, was also the chairperson of the SACP.
“There is nothing peculiar or strange about James being the chairperson of the party and also serving in the REC (Regional Executive Committee) of the ANC. It has been like that for years,” he said.
Shabalala agreed, saying the questions were being raised by people with hidden motives.
“The issue of three hats is neither here nor there. Any member of the ANC has a right to stand for any position. No one can dictate as to who can stand. James has been chairperson of the SACP, he has been member of the ANC REC and he has been the mayor. So he has been wearing three hats,” she said.
Nxumalo is up against ANC councillor Zandile Gumede, who sits on the city’s executive committee, for the regional post.
The elective conference has been postponed twice after two people were shot in KwaXimba and branch meetings were disrupted due to infighting.
Daily News