MBOMBELA – The ANC in Mpumalanga said it accepts the resolution by the provincial SACP to independently contest the next general elections in 2019.
The resolution was taken during the party’s provincial conference held at Ehlanzeni TVET College over the weekend.
Re-elected chairperson of the province, Mr Bonakele Majuba said that the province would persuade other provinces during the national conference next year July.
This is not the first time that the SACP in Mpumalanga proposed independent contestation of general elections. Two years ago, a similar resolution was taken and rejected at national level.
“We are not an NGO, we are a political organization at some point we would have to contest elections.
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We are not breaking the alliance with the ANC we share the same National Democratic Resolution, but we cannot deny the fact that people are losing faith in the ANC. We want to give people a healthy alternative to the ANC during the elections to prevent the country being taken over by the opposition,“ said Majuba.
Secretary for the ANC in the province, Mr Mandla Ndlovu said that although the SACP’s decision will affect the ruling party’s votes during the elections, they respect its decision and will engage in discussion with the alliance in terms of problems that were raised previously. “Sometimes SACP members think we are delaying on addressing some issues that they have raised before. They must understand that there are no short cuts to socialism,” he said.
Majuba said that the SACP has also lost faith in certain leaders of the ANC and view them as incapable of doing things properly. “We have raised issues of corporate capture including the GUPTAs and the ANC has not addressed them. If people vote for the SACP during elections and the ANC finds itself in a position where they need more votes to remain in power, the coalition between the ANC and the SACP would be a natural one since we share the NDR. And if the SACP wins elections, we would continue with the NDR since we share the same vision,” concluded Majuba.
