SACP reaffirms support for Zuma

2005-11-27 19:36

Johannesburg - The SA Communist Party (SACP) reaffirmed its support on Sunday for ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma in the "difficult period" he was facing, but denied that he was their candidate to succeed President Thabo Mbeki.

Referring to the ANC's national general council resolution in June-July reaffirming "comrade Zuma's position as deputy president of the ANC", the SACP said it remained committed to support Zuma "through the difficult period he is facing".

"This support was never understood by the SACP to be support for a presidential succession campaign," the party added.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday at the end of the party's two-day augmented central committee meeting, SACP general secretary Blaze Nzimande said there was still a widespread impression that Zuma was a victim of a political conspiracy.

"We agreed in the last 10-a-side [meeting with the ANC] that there was a widespread perception of conspiracy against Zuma.

"And that perception still exists," said Nzimande.

'Rumour-mongering'

"Therefore, the way forward is to actually examine what could be the reason behind the perception that there could be a conspiracy against comrade Zuma."

Impressions of a conspiracy were not just rooted in "irresponsible and factional rumour-mongering" but also fuelled by the "uneven handling" of corruption cases.

"For example, the arms deal.

There is a lot of dissatisfaction in the manner in which this was handled and the dust has not settled around this matter," said Nzimande.

Asked what the party's stance was on the rape allegation against Zuma, SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin said the matter was not discussed at the meeting.

"We didn't discuss what we are reading about in the newspapers but did discuss the issue of violence against women as, like all South Africans, we are deeply concerned at the escalation of violence against the vulnerable members of our society."

Elections

The SACP said the central committee meeting discussed the report of the recent ANC national executive committee, the current political and economic developments in the country and also how best to "refine" the SACP's strategy in support of the ANC at the forthcoming local government elections.

"The SACP will be working flat out to ensure an overwhelming ANC victory around a progressive election manifesto which we are at present engaged."

The party said much of the recent turmoil within the movement was "symptomatic" of the "deepening crisis" of a particular "class project" to shape the post-1994 state.

"This project has sought to consolidate a powerful presidential state whose objective has been to restore South African capitalism to growth on the mistaken assumption that only capitalist growth can generate the resources required for redistribution to address the crisis of poverty and under-development," the SACP said.

The party said the state-driven project has also sought to "manage" the ANC and its movement in a "largely centralised and technocratic" manner eroding collective leadership, internal organisational democracy and traditions of activism and popular mobilisation.

Gautrain

The SACP said the Gautrain rapid rail project was one such state-driven project.

It said the project's logic and impact would enrich established and emerging capital while deepening the gap between the first and second economies.

The party also celebrated its alliance partner, the Congress of SA Trade Unions' 20th anniversary, and the increase in the SACP's membership by 6 000 to 36 357 members.

- SAPA