THE Communists have hit the ground running and said they will not accept being provoked by the ANC.
This was stated by SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila, who said that they have never viewed the ANC as an enemy.
“We have never had a problem with the ANC contesting elections. We have never punished anyone for voting for the ANC. We will not allow our members to be provoked,” said Mapaila.
He said this, the ANC and the SACP are facing each other over the issue of contesting the elections independently of the SACP. In the past, the SACP used to vote with the ANC and now these organizations will be rivals.
Mapaila said that for the past 30 years, they have been supporting the ANC and even campaigned for it.
“We continue and do not turn away from running in the next election. We will not be intimidated by anyone for running in the election,” continued Mapaila.
He instructed SACP members not to allow anyone to intimidate them.
“Don’t accept being threatened with anything as we are running for elections. Don’t resign because you are being threatened,” he said.
He said they will not provoke members who decide to continue being part of the ANC.
“We will respect the decision of the members who remain in the ANC, we will not exclude them. No one should be intimidated because we live according to the will of the people that was fought for.”
He encouraged victims to report immediately.
“Those who are threatened and those who are threatened that they will be disciplined, report to us immediately. We are also supported by our members assigned to the government by the ANC.”
He said that they are not a danger to the ANC and he said that the most dangerous thing is the control of the State by the few as well as the loss of trust in the workers.
“The poor performance of the government, the loss of people’s trust are some of the problems in this country. These are the biggest problems.”
He ordered the bodies in the provinces and regions to hold meetings to discuss the current conflict with the ANC. He said there will be lessons to inform members about the decision to be independent in the election as well as the SACP’s view on local government.
The decision of the SACP has caused division even within the organizations of this organization as the leadership of KwaZulu-Natal has been disbanded because it is said that it does not agree with this decision. An interim leadership was appointed in this province as it is said that some leaders are complaining that the SACP is running independently in the elections.