By Moshoeshoe Monare
The SA Communist Party is to hold its last extended central committee meeting for 2006 amid suspensions of its youth-wing leaders, and contested provincial cabinet appointments of its members ahead of the party's congress.
The appointment of SACP Limpopo provincial secretary Justice Pitso as MEC for roads and transport has been interpreted within the party as "a reward" for his "fights" with SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande.
Pitso and colleagues in the Gauteng SACP are regarded as President Thabo Mbeki loyalists, against Nzimande, who is viewed as pro-Jacob Zuma in the current ANC succession battle that is tearing the alliance partners apart.
Limpopo and Gauteng were the only provinces that refused to support Nzimande after he was attacked by Mbeki.
"This is patronage and reward for loyalty. Pitso is busy trying to destabilise the SACP and specifically to deal with Nzimande.
"I am not surprised by his appointment," an SACP national official said.
Pitso declined to comment and referred queries to Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto's spokesperson, Mogale Nchabeleng, who said the cabinet reshuffle was aimed at strengthening government capacity following concerns from a cabinet lekgotla.
Pitso replaces Stan Motimele, while Culture MEC Joe Maswanganyi, who is viewed as a political threat to Moloto, was also fired.
Party insiders say Pitso's appointment is an attempt to buttress Moloto's power, which is threatened by pro-Zuma supporters, such as ANC provincial secretary Cassel Mathale and the ANC Youth League.
Moloto has complained at an ANC national executive committee meeting about Mathale making his premiership a difficult one.
SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka said Wednesday's the organisation's augmented central committee meeting tomorrow would discuss the party's programmes and policies ahead of the congress next winter.
He said their successful Red October campaign and other organisation-building issues would top the agenda, and not the "so-called infighting".
On the other hand, the SACP's youth wing - the Young Communist League (YCL) - is engaged in its own succession battle after suspending its deputy national secretary Mazibuko Jara and disbanding its Gauteng provincial structure.
Both Jara and the Gauteng SACP disagreed with the YCL about the Zuma issue.
The Gauteng YCL convened a provincial executive committee meeting and wrote to national secretary Buti Manamela informing him of their intention to challenge the suspension.
Manamela was not available for comment but YCL spokesperson Castro Ngobese said: "This is an internal matter but the office will act once they've received all those things."
It seems that Gauteng, which, so far, is pro-Mbeki across the structures, will be the battleground for the succession battle in the ANC.
The Gauteng SACP has already made it clear it supports Mbeki by giving him an award against the wishes of Nzimande, while Cosatu in Gauteng is also co-operating with its ANC counterparts.