Another senior South African Communist Party leader, Gauteng secretary Zico Tamela, faces the axe after being suspended from the party at a central committee meeting last weekend. The SACP head office has refused to give reasons for his suspension, saying only that he has a definite case to answer.
However, sources who attended the weekend meeting said the spark for the suspension was an invitation to Tamela to participate in a panel discussion in October on the state of the left in South Africa and whether the SACP was the right vehicle to advance the cause of the left.
They said the party’s national leadership saw the debate as indirectly raising the possibility of a split in the SACP. It is understood that Tamela did not attend the debate.
Tamela confirmed receiving a letter of suspension, but was unwilling to give details. He said his suspension was effective from November 29, the day of the central committee at Kopanong Conference Centre in Benoni.
Tamela’s predecessor Vishwas Satgar resigned from the party after he accused general secretary Blade Nzimande of intolerance and Stalinism.
SACP national spokesperson Malesela Maleka confirmed Tamela’s suspension and that of five other party members whom he would not name, saying they had not yet been informed.
Maleka would not give reasons for Tamela’s suspension, but said the party’s disciplinary committee is investigating allegations against him. ”We handle such matters with confidentiality between the organisation and concerned members,” said Maleka.
The debate was organised by Wits University and the Amandla Forum, whose editorial team includes Satgar and former SACP spokesperson Mazibuko Jara, who was ousted from the position of Young Communist League deputy national secretary in 2006.
Jara, who is still an SACP member in Cape Town, said: ”Zico did not participate in the debate because he had SACP business on that day.”
The Mail & Guardian has learnt that some of Tamela’s colleagues from Gauteng had tried to defend him at the central committee meeting. However, they failed to convince the national leadership, led by Nzimande, not to suspend him.
Gauteng chairperson Nkosiphendule Kolisile said that the provincial leadership had not pronounced on Tamela’s suspension, but respected the central committee’s decision. ”Based on the evidence given to us, we have not reached the decision that the central committee has taken.
”Maybe they’ve got more information and we’ll wait for that. We believe in comrade Zico’s innocence until proven otherwise.”
Meanwhile, the SACP in Gauteng would continue supporting Tamela. Sources in the SACP’s national office said Tamela’s suspension was part of a bigger political picture.
The SACP has in recent years been accused of Stalinist intolerance and of purging members who differ with national leaders. Purged dissidents include former treasurer Phillip Dexter who has now joined the Congress of the People.
Tamela has also been suspected of being involved in the Cope. He had planned to oppose Nzimande for the position of national general secretary last year, but failed to garner sufficient support. He also supported former president Thabo Mbeki for a third term as ANC president, while the SACP had resolved to back Jacob Zuma.
Maleka said current deputy Gauteng secretary Jacob Mamabolo would act as provincial secretary until a decision is made on Tamela’s suspension.