African National Congress Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, will deliver his party’s message of support at the South African Communist Party 5th Special National Congress in Boksburg east of Johannesburg later this morning.after having decided to field its own candidates.
It seems Mashatile’s participation in the SACP meeting will not be an attempt to change the party’s position on contesting state power. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mblaula says, “And it seems even the January ANC-SACP bilateral meeting will not convince the SACP otherwise, at least according to its General Secretary.”
SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila says its move to contest the elections will foster the reconfiguration of the alliance, something the SACP has been calling for, for over two decades. Mapaila says the alliance finds itself in this situation because of the weakness of the ANC leadership.Meanwhile, both the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African National Civics Organisation will also deliver their messages of support to the congress.