Blade wants it both ways

The South African Communist Party (SACP) meets in Polokwane for its second special national congress from Thursday, with a clear indication that the party’s constitution might be amended to allow its general secretary, Blade Nzimande, to continue holding the position and also serve in the Cabinet. The party’s constitution states that the general secretary’s position should be full time, but Nzimande agreed to be deployed as minister of higher education in President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet, and continues to hold two positions.

Nzimande told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday that the special national congress could take the same decisions as a national congress, but could not elect members.

This, however, could be overturned if two-thirds of the party’s structures called for elections and even then, the call should be made before the special congress sits.

‘Not a single structure has called for elections,” said Nzimande, indicating that the few disgruntled members in the party had already lost their battle to take issue with his two positions.

Several SACP senior leaders are deployed in government on an African National Congress ticket, raising concerns within the party that the move could weaken the organisation. The matter has been placed on the agenda at the special congress. ‘It is a matter that we are raising in the political report of the central committee,” said Nzimande, adding that it was ‘wrong and naughty” to single him out for scrutiny when other Cabinet ministers also held senior party positions.

Nzimande is scheduled to present the party’s political report on Thursday.

The SACP will focus on the role the party needs to play in the country’s politics. Head of the secretary’s office, Solly Mapaila—who has been largely in charge of the SACP office since Nzimande took the Cabinet job—said they needed to discuss how deploying its cadres in government could benefit the party. ‘The issue here is not even about the general secretary, it is about the challenges the party is facing in relation to the deployment of its cadres in different spheres of society”.

The SACP’s political influence was enhanced by Zuma’s victory in 2007.

About 1 000 delegates are expected to discuss, among other matters, how to strengthen the party and its finances, the state and the future of local government as well as economic transformation, which will include the planning commission and rural development.

The ANC, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) will send representatives to the congress. ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete will lead the party’s delegation and President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to address delegates on Saturday. The congress ends on Sunday, with a report-back rally to be held at the University of Limpopo’s Oscar Mpheta stadium.