Mbombela – The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Mpumalanga has said that it will continue to help its alliance partner, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in the forthcoming local government elections, this despite violent clashes between the two organisations earlier this year.
Provincial SACP secretary Bonakele Majuba said on Sunday his party was campaigning for the ANC in the August 3 local government polls, but admitted there were still tensions between the two parties but that this was not enough to deter the SACP from garnering voter support for the ANC.
“We can’t be sure of whether there will be other clashes in the future because people were educated differently about politics,” said Majuba.
“Relations between us and the ANC are better now, but there will always be differences, just like in many families. Mpumalanga is the home of the ANC. We want the ANC to win the elections overwhelmingly. We are convinced we will still retain the ANC’s majority victory.”
In January, hostilities between the two alliance partners saw a group of ANC members preventing their SACP counterparts from entering KaNyamazane hall outside the capital Mbombela.
The gathering was disrupted and former ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa was also barred from giving a memorial lecture.
The SACP also demanded the resignation from public office of Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza due to what it called rampant corruption in his administration. Allegations also emerged at the time suggesting that the SACP was using Phosa to force Mabuza out office.
Majuba dismissed the allegations, saying the SACP could never have used Phosa as he was a seasoned cadre of the ANC.
ANC provincial spokesperson Sibusiso Themba said the SACP’s election campaign for his party was visible on the ground.
“The alliance in the province is united,” said Themba. “Everything between the ANC and the SACP was resolved and we are expecting a 90% victory in the coming elections.”
Phosa and Mabuza could not be reached for comment.
African News Agency