SACP blasts state security organs
Party warns of false intelligence, ‘gangster state’
THE South African Communist Party yesterday lashed out at what it called “gangsterism” within the state‚ but would not be drawn on questions whether President Jacob Zuma was still a worthy president.
The party’s second deputy general secretary‚ Solly Mapaila‚ was scathing of state security organs‚ saying certain “rogue elements” kept themselves busy with “irrelevant” things to “hype up the president’s decisions”.
He was speaking at a press briefing in Johannesburg amid fevered speculation that Zuma planned to axe Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas.
Zuma‚ he said‚ had based his decision on an intelligence report‚ of which he would not confirm the author‚ and had informed the SACP on Monday of his intention to reshuffle the cabinet.
The briefing was called in an effort by the SACP to “set the record straight”‚ after leaks to the media made it seem the party was responsible for leaks to journalists over Zuma’s intentions and had supported the president’s plan.
“The SACP and the ANC have been engaged in political discussion in bilateral sessions‚” the statement read.
“This last Monday‚ those discussions continued. At the core of our discussions are the strategic questions facing our revolution broadly and our movement specifically.
“The SACP wishes to state that as is the norm‚ the president informed us of his intention to effect a cabinet reshuffle‚ replacing both the minister and deputy minister of finance‚” the statement read.
“We recorded our objection to the intended reshuffle. However‚ after the meeting an unfortunate selective leak to various media houses has distorted the facts‚ and sought to create a public impression the SACP is firstly responsible for the leak but secondly has agreed to the intention [to replace the finance minister].”
The party said it acceded that Zuma had the powers as constitutionally appointed to him‚ and the responsibility to appoint cabinet‚ but at the same time he was an ANC deployee and had to implement ANC mandates.
The statement continued saying that the SACP had grown gravely concerned over the “growing abuse of state security organs and their meddling in daily political life”.
“We are aware of a rogue intelligence unit that in our view gathers data illegally‚ produces false reports and feeds them into the political and public domain to smear comrades.
“We have a responsibility not to allow ourselves to be run by gangsters nor degenerate into a gangster state wherein public office-bearers and officials cannot discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour.”
Mapaila described the intelligence report Zuma relied on to motivate the axing of the finance ministers as “nonsense” and partly the reason why the party objected to the president’s plans‚ adding that he personally believed Gordhan and Jonas had served the movement with distinction.
“How can you believe that a minister with a delegation of business and trade union leadership organised an investment trip to go and look for people to come and invest in our country . . . how can you believe that such a trip is a trip against the country?” Mapaila asked. “We should not be treated like children. “That intelligence report that was given to us‚ we are not happy with it‚ that is what we can safely say at the moment.”
He said the SACP supported Gordhan because he ran a clean ministry and had done a good job.
“That’s why we felt there could have been a further process before decisions based on it are taken. The big issue is that‚ maybe‚ we have reached a time where we need a real restructuring in that sector [the security cluster]. Because at the moment I don’t think it’s really useful.”
In response to questions of who penned the so-called “Operation Check Mate” report, he said: “Our belief is that the president cannot use outside intelligence information for any action that he has to exercise‚ he must use state organs.”
He said the state security cluster was wasting huge resources on matters that were “insignificant” to “hype up the president’s decisions”.
“It is that rogue element that we seek to remove from our state institutions. It’s corruption on steroids‚ abuse of state organs on steroids. We reject that as a communist party.”
The SACP also said the Gupta family’s South African citizenship should be revoked‚ as any relationship with them was “toxic”. — TMG