The South African Communist Party (SACP) came to the ANC national general council pushing for a new growth path and worried about what it saw as unwarranted attacks on President Jacob Zuma.
The Mail & Guardian spoke to Blade Nzimande, the SACP general secretary, during the conference.
What is your general assessment of the NGC?
It’s been a good NGC so far. The president’s message was positive. He was stamping his authority and, more importantly, the authority of the ANC. He reaffirmed the alliance in very strong terms, making it clear that none of the alliance partners can survive without the other.
Before the NGC you made a lot of noise about the nonexistence of a new economic growth plan.The president in his speech made a firm commitment on the plan. He said he was waiting for the NGC to deliberate so that government would finalise its details thereafter.
Some of its elements are being discussed.
Although we feel that by now the government should have completed it, we are aware that it is no small task to define how we build an inclusive economy. We know the Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, is doing good work around this.
In the past few weeks the SACP has projected itself as almost saying ‘hands off the president”.
What we have been saying is that there continues to be this grouping that wants to cause strain in the alliance and the president is an obstacle in that regard.
We always knew that it would boil down to dislodging the president. Of course, we must defend the president, not as a person but for the unity of the alliance.
They are not going to succeed. You saw yourself how the delegates received the president’s speech. It was unequivocal support. We knew that they would not succeed.
So the SACP is achieving its objectives at the NGC?
My problem with you guys in the media is that you predicted that there would be a shoot-out at this NGC and it has not happened.
We are happy that we are not being distracted. What we want out of the NGC is a united ANC, a united alliance and a focus on the issues. So far it is on course.
We are confident that the message by the president in his political report set the right tone for the NGC. SACP falls in line behind the president.