SACP warned of bloodshed in KZN if it contests ANC in elections

'Local government politics in KZN are deadly'

- By Sihle Mavuso

The SACP's decision to contest next year's local government elections on its own has stirred up a political hornet's nest.

The central committee (CC) of the SACP has been warned that its decision to contest next year's local government elections against the ANC, its longtime ally, could lead to bloodshed in the politically volatile province of KwaZulu-Natal.

The chilling warning was delivered to the party's CC at a meeting in August in KwaZulu-Natal. The meeting was convened at the behest of the now-disbanded provincial executive committee (PEC), which was trying to dissuade the communist party from following through with the decision to contest the election as a standalone party.

Several SACP leaders, who spoke to Sunday World on condition of anonymity, said they had requested that the CC meet with them to raise concerns emanating from the election decision. The CC subsequently came to Durban in August to listen to the PEC, which was disbanded earlier this week.