Cape Town – South African Communist Party (SACP) general-secretary Solly Mapaila has criticised the ANC for forming a government of national unity (GNU) that includes the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Speaking at National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu)’s national political school n Ekurhuleni on Monday, Mapaila expressed his disapproval, saying that the SACP had opposed the inclusion of “neo-liberal forces” like the DA, preferring a coalition with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) due to shared ideologies.
“Of course, the ANC NEC [national executive committee] went and said we are going with the government of national unity, we are inviting everyone. Then the EFF comes and says, we are not going to join if everyone is included, particularly the DA and Freedom Front Plus.
“[The EFF] even went further than us and said these [parties] are colonial forces. So when they did that I’m like oh my gosh, sishayiwe [we’ve been defeated] because now the ANC has been pushed to the corner once more.”
Solly Mapaila:
The ANC has sold-out. pic.twitter.com/r7Wsuotq6t
— Izwe Lethu (@LandNoli) July 16, 2024
Despite his efforts to broker a coalition between the ANC and the EFF, the ANC opted for a GNU, a decision Mapaila felt was a betrayal, as the SACP’s input was ignored in the final agreement.
He said that many felt that the ANC had “sold out”.
“I did not give up the first day. I went to meet comrade Floyd Shivambu the day after I buried my brother. I lost my brother when I was at the Siyanqoba Rally. I went to see him [Shivambu] and said ‘comrade, you can’t continue this way’.
“I went to the ANC, it was back and forth begging people to actually focus on the possible revolutionary path.
“It will be better to be irritated by the EFF in Cabinet than to be irritated by the neo-liberal forces who want to take control of the revolution.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
