SACP goes it alone for first time

THE SACP has lined up 42 candidates to contest the Metsimaholo Municipality by-election in the Free State later this month, a turning point for the party in that it’s the first time it’s contesting elections without its alliance partner, the ANC.

Party provincial secretary Bheke Stofile said the community had rallied around the SACP, with many volunteering to campaign on behalf of the party.

“We are contesting this by-election because the community and the workers asked us to do so. They came together as workers and residents to help the SACP, even though some of them are not even members of the party,” said Stofile.

“We are done with nominations of candidates for both ward and proportional representation councillors. We have a total of 42 candidates ready to contest under the SACP banner. This is historic for the party and for the province.”

SACP national spokesperson Alex Mashilo said its provincial leaders wrote a letter to its national leadership, requesting it to allow them to contest the by-election. The provincial leaders said the community was concerned about the state of the municipality.

“They said things were not going well there, the situation was getting worse, and they requested the SACP to head straight to the ballot solo. This came from the community and workers after careful consideration. The politburo held a meeting on October 7 where a final decision was taken to stand for the by-elections at Metsimaholo,” Mashilo said.

Tension within the ANC-led tripartite alliance saw the SACP take a decision at its July elective conference held in Ekurhuleni to contest future elections alone.

The SACP, once staunch supporters of President Jacob Zuma, have since since become sharp critics of his presidency and party leadership. – ANA