The ANC is threatening to remove from government positions those who decide to campaign for its coalition partner, the SACP, which has chosen to contest the elections independently.
The Secretary General of the ANC, Mr. Fikile Mbalula, said that those who will choose to campaign for the Communists in the upcoming elections will risk being removed from their assigned positions in the government.
He said this while talking to the media on Thursday.
There are a number of SACP leaders who hold government positions including the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Mr. Buti Manamela, and the Premier of Limpopo, Dr. Phophi Ramathuba.
The ANC has given its members a deadline of ten days to say which party they will campaign for in the upcoming local government elections.
Mbalula said that those who choose not to come out publicly, will assume that they will campaign for the SACP.
Mbalula said it is a crime to campaign for a party that competes with the ANC in the elections, and said those who commit that crime will be dealt with.
“All members of the ANC are forced to campaign for the ANC and their representatives in the elections. Even those who are members of the SACP are forced to campaign for the ANC. Those who will not come out publicly that they will campaign for the ANC, we will assume that they will campaign for another party. Those who campaign for a party that competes with the ANC will be dealt with.
“If you are appointed to a position in the government, we will take measures including removing you from office. We will remove you from office because you will be campaigning for a party that fought with the ANC in the elections, which is against the principles of the ANC.”
Mbalula said SACP members will not be expelled from the ANC.
“We respect the SACP’s decision to contest the elections. We will not fight the Communists in our campaign. We have no problem with the members of the SACP. The SACP has strong leaders, some of whom have been appointed to positions in the government. Some members of the SACP have a different opinion on the issue of contesting the elections.
“We are not at war. The only thing that people have to choose is which party they will campaign for. You cannot campaign for both parties. You have to choose one party. You cannot say that today you will campaign for the ANC, and tomorrow you will be campaigning for the SACP.”
Mbalula said they will see the SACP after the election.
“Perhaps we will discuss this matter after the election. When the election results are out, maybe we will see if we can work with the SACP. You will not hear us talking about this issue again.”