Blade Nzimande.
In any political organisation there will be some bickering over policy and strategic matters (“Forward to a socialist South Africa”, Letters, July 20 to 26). What is not normal is when such political differences degenerate or get elevated to higher levels, becoming bitter feuds that threaten organisational unity, indeed, its very life.
Joseph Stalin is often criticised for his firm position against party members whose dissenting views threatened the life of the Communist Party. Although Stalin did commit some mistakes in the process of building a disciplined party in the early Soviet Union, I am glad that through his efforts the country became a force to be reckoned with.
The unwavering international solidarity of the Soviet Union trained Nelson Mandela and Umkhonto weSizwe, eventually leading to the dawn of democracy in our country.
Those critical of Blade Nzimande have run out of things to say because, as the minister of higher education and training, his work is beyond reproach and his matchless work in the South African Communist Party is equally hard to ignore.
At the time of his election to position of general secretary, the party membership stood at about 30 000, yet within five years it has grown to more than 150 000. Most people are not aware that nine SACP provincial congresses were held in 2011-2012 without a single incident of infighting for positions. Nzimande should be praised for building a formidable, disciplined SACP. – Samson Kgomo, Ga-Mohlala