The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Free State has hailed the decision of the national leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) to designate senior leader, Kgalema Motlanthe, to lead the political process of uniting ANC in the Free State.
The SACP also expressed shock to learn of an appeal apparently filed with the Constitutional Court by certain individuals.
In a statement released by the Free State SACP, the party said the designation of Motlanthe bears testimony to the seriousness with which the ANC national leadership values the unity of the movement.
The SACP said these words in welcoming the ANC National Working Committee (NWC) decision directing the ANC Free State Province to prioritise unity and renewal of the ANC in the province, following a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) decision that nullified the May 2018 ANC Provincial Conference.
“The SACP in Free State calls on Comrade Motlanthe and his team to be as inclusive as possible, ensuring that the Alliance and various groupings beyond the former ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and those that previously went to court, are involved in the process,” said the party.
In urging everyone to give space and support to this adopted political process intended to unite the ANC, the SACP said unity is the bedrock upon which the ANC is founded, and it is incumbent on every genuine member and leader of the ANC to treat unity as sacrosanct.
SACP Free State Provincial Secretary, Bhekie Stofile, said the SACP is encouraged by the spirit of discussions and progress amongst former PEC members and members vindicated by the SCA.
He said the SACP Free State is also engaged in fruitful ongoing discussions because the unity of the ANC is a political necessity for a functional alliance. “In order for the process to comprehensively uproot the causes of deep-seated challenges in the province, the SACP urges inclusivity whilst guarding against opportunism that may rear its ugly head,” he said.
Stofile added the SACP in Free State, however, is shocked to learn of an appeal apparently filed with the Constitutional Court by certain individuals.
“Whilst the SACP respects the rights of every individual, we firmly believe that in the context of enhancing the unity and renewal of the ANC in the province, such an unsolicited move to appeal is grossly ill-advised, defies the ANC Officials and NWC decision and is sadly self-serving.
“The political responsibilities and tasks ahead, such as the upcoming local government elections, requires everyone to close ranks, unite and reposition the ANC to earn and reclaim its leadership role in society,” he said.
The SACP Free State said it will also engage and urge these individuals to abandon the appeal and rather redirect their energy towards an organic ANC led process of building unity and reclaiming organisational processes away from courts.
