The power struggle involving leaders of the SACP within the organisation’s structures in Gauteng is unfolding.
At the centre of the fights is the SACP’s provincial secretary Jacob Mamabolo, who is also the MEC for finance, and the party’s first deputy secretary Mpapa Kanyane.
So tense is the stand-off between the duo that the party decided to intervene.
However, the intervention took place after Kanyane alongside provincial executive committee (PEC) members Lulama Nare, Phiri Matsemela and the Young Communist League’s Gauteng secretary Kgabo Morifi were suspended.
The leadership of the SACP expressed concerns about what it claimed to be some “individualistic, anarchist, adventurist behaviour, and factional tendency finding expression in our province”, stating that it is unequivocally affirming its support for Mamabolo.
This after Kanyane wrote a scathing letter, which we have seen, to Mamabolo on August 31 stating that the term of the provincial leadership ended in April 2022, and that a congress was supposed to have been held at the end of May 2022.
“This congress was postponed via a WhatsApp message before it started. No sound reasons were provided as to the abrupt cancellation,” wrote Kanyane.
“It later came to light that the provincial secretary went to provide falsehoods to the national officials to the effect that our districts did not pass their membership audit.
“This we knew was a far cry far from the truth as the PS [provincial secretary] was aware of the possible outcome of the congress.
“Subsequent to this unprecedented and unconstitutional decision, the CC [central committee] appointed a task team of CC members to supplement the current CC deployees in the province to expedite the congress.
“To date, the Gauteng PEC term of office has surpassed that of the CC term, which is four years. Since May 2023, this congress has been postponed more than three times for implausible reasons.
“Districts membership audit and verification were conducted by HQ [the headquarters] with the second [deputy provincial secretary] deputy provincial secretary, provincial staff and district secretaries.
“Therefore, there was no merit to the claim that the membership of districts was not in good condition before the district congresses, as districts were validated to go to their congresses by HQ.”
He added that the same branches of which membership was raised as a query to postpone the provincial congress were used for the national congress immediately thereafter.
“We were promised to go to the provincial congress after the national congress.
“Immediately after the national congress, the provincial secretary started fermenting concocted malicious allegations against certain PWC members and the intended objective was to suspend them before the congress, as they constituted a pernicious threat to insofar as the elections were concerned.
“Ultimately, these three PWC members were suspended based on fabricated allegations even though such suspensions were never sanctioned by the PEC as per constitutional requirements.”
He stated in his letter that Mamabolo violated the constitution, saying the matter was formally raised and objected to by both national deputy secretaries.
However, Kanyane said that Mamabolo insisted to bestow upon himself constitutional powers far beyond his station.
“The SACP’s constitution provides for the co-option of not more than two PEC members after the congress, and accordingly those co-options were made and presented to the first PEC of the 11th PEC congress in 2018.
“The constitution further provides that in case of vacancies arising during the term of the PEC, such vacancies should be filled by the provincial council, which is the second-highest decision-making structure between congresses,” reads the letter in part.
The SACP said in a statement that the central theme emphasized by the leadership was the imperative need to rebuild the party on the foundation of principled unity and discipline.
“The leadership unequivocally conveyed that the endeavor to unite the working class into a formidable force demands a resolute, unified, and disciplined organisation,” reads the statement.
“Unity stands as an essential prerequisite for forging a party that can systematically concentrate on the leadership of the working class, equipping it to confront contemporary challenges with precision.
“The leadership also received a comprehensive briefing from the PEC on the developments within the province. In particular, the leadership was informed once more about the suspension of comrades Mpapa Kanyane, Lulama Nare, Phiri Matsemela, and Kgabo Morifi.
“Furthermore, the leadership was briefed on the PEC’s decisive step of dissolving the following three districts – Oupa Phasha [Ekurhuleni], Vaal [Sedibeng], and Dr Yusuf Dadoo [West Rand].
“The PEC has acted swiftly by appointing the interim leadership to oversee the transition, ensuring the continued pursuit of the party’s objectives in these areas.”
When approached for comment, Mamabolo said: “Please note that I will not comment beyond the official statement.”
Kanyane did not respond to questions sent to him.
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