South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, Solly Mapaila, says he will not be distracted by what he calls the ‘capitalist agenda’ from his mission to emancipate the working class.
Mapaila says he does not aspire to occupy public office or become a top government official.
Mapaila believes the capitalist system has been consistent in keeping the working class in poverty.
He was speaking during the SACP Limpopo’s 9th Elective Congress in Nkowankowa, outside Tzaneen, in Limpopo.
“I do not have any personal agenda. No one in the movement owes me anything. Now, what will they offer me? I do not need an office. I do not need a political office. I state clearly as the party general secretary, I will not go to government.”
“We need to show that it is possible to have an alternative and to work differently. Do not become impatient and also do not become opportunistic. Do not place personal ambitions above organizational objectives. This is when we need communist morality and steadfastness the most.”
Mapaila has also accused the ANC of acting in bad faith, saying the SACP’s willingness to continue working with the ANC has been met with disdain.
“We, the communist party, agreed to allow some of our members who are there in the ANC to be used by the African National Congress in their elections campaigns. We even offered that. What we got in return was threats. And I am like who are these people to think that they can threaten the communist party.”
Meanwhile, SACP Spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana says the party will not prevent ANC members to contest for leadership positions in the SACP.
“As a communist party, we do not act to punish any comrade of the communist party who also holds a membership or even a leadership position of the ANC. That’s our point of departure, which is quite different to what the ANC Secretary General has been announcing that there must be people who are making public submissions to do this and that which are, of course, complete anomalies in the way which the alliance has always worked.”
New SACP Limpopo leaders are expected to be announced on Sunday.
VIDEO | SACP’s Solly Mapaila warns against cadre deployment favoritism:
