A reconfigured tripartite alliance is unlikely – analyst

The second deputy general secretary of the South Africa Communist Party (SACP), Chris Matlhako, is optimistic about the achievement of a reconfigured tripartite alliance that would see the alliance’s components becoming equal partners.

But political analyst Zamikhaya Maseti doubted a reconfigured alliance would be achieved.

“The question that the SACP must ask is what it will take to achieve this reconfiguration?” Maseti said.

Presently, the ANC is the major partner and leader of the political partnership, but the SACP and Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) for years had been demanding that they be treated as equal partners.

Often the ANC would make decisions, particularly on governance policy, without consulting the junior partners.

Matlhako said in an interview with The Citizen on the sidelines of the SACP special congress in Ekurhuleni that the alliance partners – the ANC, SACP and Cosatu – have an understanding about the need for the reconfigured alliance.

“There were no major differences – just immaterial differences of nuances. We all feel there is a need for the reconfiguration of this alliance. We agree that the SACP must relate differently to the ruling ANC, and Cosatu likewise,” Matlhako said.

“How do we together advance the interests of the working class and what sacrifices we all make in order to ensure we achieve economic growth, we fight unemployment, inequality and including social insecurity?” Matlhako said.

The ANC had rebutted some areas of the SACP 2017 congress resolution pertaining to the alliance reconfiguration.

The SACP responded to the ANC critique via the joint alliance political council.

The SACP would report to its 750 delegates at the special congress for the party structure to ratify the decision. The party would then get a fresh mandate on how to deal with the reconfiguration hot potato.

“We are satisfied that we have areas of convergence with the ANC on this matter.

“This process has climaxed into an important stage of holding the alliance together,” Matlhako said. “This is particularly important as we approach the upcoming local government election. We must prepare our forces for a clear focus to make an impact on the poor and working people of our country.”

The next alliance political council was expected to explore commonalities before a final position of the alliance was made.

The mid-term congress is meant to evaluate 2017 SACP congress resolutions and a leadership report back on the progress made in achieving the resolutions.

Maseti said the SACP failed to implement the resolution on contesting state power.

“It will be interesting how the delegates at this special congress will deal with this. Will the SACP get what they want? I doubt it,” Maseti said.

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