Former treasurer of the South African Communist Party (SACP) Phillip Dexter, a central figure in the row over an alleged R500 000 donation to the party, has resigned from the organisation.
In his letter of resignation, released to the media on Tuesday, he said he had taken this decision ”with a great deal of pain”.
Dexter, who had been suspended and who faced disciplinary action stemming from the donation controversy, said in the letter he remained committed to the aims of the SACP and the ideal of a socialist society.
”I am convinced, however, that the current leadership of the SACP can never build that future, nor does it have any desire to do so.
”It has displayed a singular level of factionalism and reactionary behaviour as to make it the very antithesis of what a communist party should be.
”When and if the SACP is led by comrades serious about the revolution, transformation and committed to democracy and a socialist programme, I will be ready to rejoin it.”
The donation row arose from a claim by businessman Charles Modise that he gave SACP chief Blade Nzimande the money, intended for party coffers.
The cash, if it existed, was never recorded in the party books, and Nzimande has denied receiving it.
Modise has since accused Dexter and former Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha of conspiring against Nzimande, and of using the donation debacle to discredit the SACP leader.
Dexter said in his resignation letter that in attempting to take disciplinary action against him, party representatives had supplied ”what can only be described as trumped-up charges”.
Though he was willing to face a fair hearing, he was worried that during it he would have to reveal things about the party leadership that would be ”extremely damaging to the party and perhaps even irretrievably so”.
”Despite my extreme disappointment at the under-development of the party … I refuse to be the instrument of further damage to it.”
Dexter said he remained a member of the African National Congress. — Sapa