The South African Communist Party in Gauteng has suspended its chairperson, Nkosiphendule Kolisile, in a move that is seen as cementing support in the provinces for the party’s general secretary, Blade Nzimande, to retain his position. The SACP is due to elect new leaders next year.
The Mail & Guardian has learnt through three SACP sources that Kolisile was accused of bringing the party into disrepute when he differed with other provincial executive committee (PEC) members about the disbandment of the Linda Jabane (Johannesburg) district leadership structure. The district is the largest in Gauteng and is considered to be anti-Nzimande.
Kolisile apparently clarified in a letter to the district’s secretary, Trevor Konela, that the PEC had discussed its dissolution but that a decision was yet to be taken. He was found guilty in absentia and notified of his suspension this week. The M&G has learnt that he might also be expelled from the party.
The disciplinary committee, allegedly reconstituted specifically for Kolisile’s case, also used media reports about an alleged plot to topple Nzimande as an aggravating factor to suspend the Gauteng chairperson, even though he had distanced himself from the allegations and reaffirmed his support for the leaders of the SACP, including Nzimande.
Kolisile has been regarded as an opponent of Nzimande since his former ally, Zico Tamela, tried to contest the general secretary position in 2007. Tamela was eventually sacked from the party, but Kolisile survived suspension and was reinstated after the national conference that year.
An SACP provincial leader who sympathises with Kolisile said it was unbelievable that a faction of the PEC, led by acting provincial secretary Jacob Mamabolo, had gone as far as suspending Kolisile for a ‘non-offence”.
Mamabolo, regarded as an ally of Nzimande, could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
The PEC source said it was clear that Kolisile’s suspension was part of a purge of ‘everyone who doesn’t agree with them” on the choice for national leader next year. Kolisile was expected to try to retain his position during the Gauteng elective conference in July. His victory would have meant that Nzimande’s supporters would struggle to get Gauteng’s backing next year.
The chairperson of the disbanded district leadership structure, Madiba Hlalo, said none of the allegations used as reasons to disband it were true. He confirmed the PEC source’s version of events.
Kolisile refused to comment, saying the matter was sub judice. In March, the SACP’s decision to disband its Limpopo command structures was also linked to next year’s leadership battle.
Nzimande has so far secured support in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Western Cape and North West.