Stop factions in ruling party, urges SACP

THE SACP has reiterated its call for a clear policy on the succession debate to eliminate factions within the ANC.

Benson Nqentsu, a SACP district secretary, was addressing the ruling party’s 105 birthday celebration in the Dullah Omar region in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, at the weekend.

Speaking to cheers from the crowd, Nqentsu said that following the party’s dismal performance in the municipal elections last year, it was time the ANC and its alliance partners did some introspection.

He said of members’ campaigns like the CR17 (Cyril Ramaphosa 2017), NDZ (Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma) and BM (Baleka Mbete) that they were the very definition of factions, which were the main cause of problems for the ANC.

Social media was abuzz last week following the appearance of several posters and items of clothing with the words BM17 on them as a means to campaign for the upcoming national conference.

Nqentsu added that the practice of labelling party members as “having being bought” whenever one raised constructive criticism was also killing morale.

“As the SACP, we want to say we need to choose whether to unite the movement or move towards the same destructive path we are on,” he said.

“But whenever you criticise the ANC, there are those quick to accuse you of being a puppet to the white monopoly capitalists.

“When we criticise the ANC, they tell us that we have been bought, while they are the ones dining with big business.

“For the ANC to unite itself, it must dissolve factions.

“The ‘premier league’ is a phenomenon that exists within the movement and it must be done away with. The CR17, MB17, the NDZ – these are factions and they must be dissolved.

“The ANC must develop a clear policy to attend to issues of succession or else we will go to the national conference bickering about names instead of what is really important.

“We will go to the conference to remove one saddle only to put on another, but the horse is still the same.”

Nqentsu also called for the immediate investigation into state-owned companies to stamp out corruption. “We are calling for an investigation into Eskom, which has been captured by the Gupta family.

“Denel and SAA must also be investigated. Another agency that needs investigation is Sassa; our people get money deducted for things like airtime and electricity when they have never bought such things,” Nqentsu said.

“We need to take corrective steps to address real issues instead of focusing of individuals and positions,” he warned.

‘Premier league and others are causing division’