Zokwana’s head on the block as SACP chooses new leadership

IT REMAINS to be seen whether the national chairperson of the SACP, Senzeni Zokwana, will escape the axe when the party elects new leadership this week.

The five-day 14th national congress will start in Ekurhuleni in Gauteng tomorrow.

Insiders say Zokwana, who also serves as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, has fallen out of favour with many party members for his “silence” on President Jacob Zuma. His counterparts, however, Blade Nzimande, general-secretary, and second deputy Solly Mapaila openly criticised the president.

“His silence will lead to his demise because many party members believe he is failing to lead.

“He should be leading the charge as the chairperson but instead he has taken a back seat,” said a member who will be attending the congress.

Another said: “He has not said anything about Zuma while other leaders have been speaking tough against the president. We see him as a sell-out.”

Nzimande, once a staunch Zuma supporter, had been relentless in speaking out against the president and the Gupta family.

Delegates are divided, according to insiders, on whether to vote Zokwana out or to retain him, with some warning that his axing will lead to factions in the SACP.

Zokwana is the former president of the National Union of Mineworkers.

“To be honest, we are divided on Zokwana because some want to retain him but others are vigorously campaigning for him to to go. This is a matter the delegates will have to engage on,” said a source who will also be attending the congress.

Some are punting the name of Thulas Nxesi, deputy chairperson and the Minister of Sport and Recreation to succeed Zokwana.

Nxesi was reportedly part of the 18 ANC national executive committee members who supported a motion tabled by ANC veteran Joel Netshitenzhe against Zuma. Zuma survived that motion. The SACP had joined Cosatu in banning Zuma from speaking at any of it events. However, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa is welcome.

Another campaign that was gaining traction on social media was for Mapaila to be elected as general secretary.

But this was unlikely to happen, sources believed, because Nzimande still enjoyed sizeable support.

Zokwana said he was not aware of the claims that some SACP members wanted him out.

“No one is elected to any position for life. So if the congress decides that I step down, I have no problem with that,” he said.

Zokwana said he had never been “silent” on Zuma but he followed a stance taken by the party not to break ranks or vote with the opposition parties during the motions of no-confidence in Zuma.

Delegates are also expected to debate whether the SACP should remain in the tripartite alliance with Cosatu and the ANC or ditch the alliance owing to the glaring divisions that have beset it.