International Politics

JOHANNESBURG - South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Solly Mapaila has dared the African National Congress (ANC) to expel its members.

Relations between the two tripartite alliance members have been strained since the SACP resolved to contest future elections independently.

The Communist Party said it was forced to go it alone after what it calls the ANC’s refusal to reconfigure the alliance in more than 20 years.

Earlier, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said they had to discuss the question of dual membership to avoid discussing their election strategies with people who act as their opponents.

Mapaila says: “They are ANC members in their own right as much as members of the ANC have decided to join the Communist Party and pursue a further struggle to deepen this transformation.”

“Now, if the ANC takes its own decision to expel our members, it is their own baby. It has been done by (Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) founder) Clements Kadalie after we had built the trade union movement. He expelled communists, we rebuilt the trade union movement anew in this country.”

He added: “We can’t tell them what to do but we are committed to the alliance and to dual membership and to respect of each component of the alliance and the roles that members are playing.”

South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Solly Mapaila has dared the African National Congress (ANC) to expel its members. (Pic: The Citizen)