'Blue-light' SACP leaders fingered for circumventing conference resolution

One faction says decision to contest elections is final

- By Queenin Masuabi and Mawande AmaShabalala

The so-called “blue-light” SACP leaders are allegedly cocking a snook at the party’s conference resolution to contest elections independent of the ANC, and are now lobbying their comrades to continue working with Africa's oldest liberation movement.

Sunday World can reveal that their decision to break ranks has split opinion, with those who have suddenly somersaulted being accused of being Judases who are afraid of losing their plum ministerial jobs and the perks that come with them, which include blue lights and bodyguards.

The situation has been worsened by an ANC that has drawn a line in the sand to exclude SACP cadres from its election strategy meetings.

An SACP member who did not want to be named said the top brass of the self-proclaimed vanguard of the working-class, is divided into factions - the “blue-light” brigade forming part of the government of national unity and “amaKomanisi okuqina” (hardline communists), who are not in government.

The amaKomanisi okuqina faction aligned to the party's general secretary Solly Mapaila, is insistent on protecting the December 2024 special congress resolution not to support the ANC in the local elections next year and the 2029 general elections.

The grouping, which laments that the ANC has betrayed the people of South Africa by going into bed with the DA, has since set in motion the SACP’s own “wall-to-wall” election campaign, separate of that of the party of Nelson Mandela.