‘Back ANC, then hold party to account’

THE general secretary of the SA Communist Party (SACP), Blade Nzimande, says alliance partners must play an oversight role on the ruling party by demanding it fulfils all its local government election promises.

The time has come for communists and workers under the banner of the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) to take over the oversight role from opposition parties, he said.

Nzimande was speaking in Durban yesterday where he was addressing the first shop stewards council for labour unions under Cosatu.

Speaking on a range of current affairs like the national democratic revolution, corruption in the public sector and collective bargaining, Nzimande said as communists, they undoubtedly still have confidence in the ANC.

Even though he gave the ruling party, its long time alliance partner, the thumbs up for its manifesto and its determination to clean its house after the elections, he said the ruling party must be held accountable.

“There are a lot of things we like in the manifesto of the ANC. In fact, there is no single thing we don’t like in the manifesto. Now, comrades, the challenge is about fulfilling all the things contained in the manifesto.

“Let me give this challenge to Cosatu and the Communist Party that after the elections, we must force the ANC to fulfil all that is contained in its manifesto.

“It should be us who raise these issues, not the opposition.

“It should be us raising the issues about our party,” Nzimande told the shop stewards council gathering.

Turning to internal ANC matters, Nzimande said the tide against political killings must be turned, lest all capable people develop a fear of taking public office because they would be killed if they did.

He said the killing of Siya Mkhize, a councillor candidate of the ANC in Cato Manor in Durban, is a reminder that political killings are still taking place and no one gets arrested for them. Mkhize was killed on Friday evening in the densely populated township.