SACP STANDS TO LOSE MOST IN UNION FRACAS

by Terry Bell
Politically, the biggest potential loser in the ongoing and increasingly bitter fracas
within Cosatu and its affiliates is the smallest member of the ANC-led tripartite
alliance, the South African Communist Party (SACP). That party’s Medium Term
Vision (MTV), described in some party documents as a “ten-year plan” looks close to
being in tatters.
This “vision” calls for the creation of “socialism” which the SACP describes as a
mixed economy, multi-class ““transitional social system”. It is a goal that can be
attained by bringing “all key sites of power and influence” under “working class
control”.
However, since the SACP describes itself as THE party of the working class, this
implies SACP control. Here the trade union movement is vital. In the the words of
the MTV, “building working class power in the workplace is a key dimension”.
The SACP was particularly successful in this: until very recently, almost every
member of the Cosatu executive was a party member. The same applied to the
leaderships of the biggest unions. Critics maintain that this is an authoritarian, “topdown”
approach.
But it has led to much of the tension and backstabbing between Cosatu leaders and
amounts, in fact, to an acrimonious divorce between former comrades who once
shared the same vision. The dissidents, led by Numsa, argue that the SACP has
“gone off track” and been “absorbed into the ANC” to support anti-working class
policies.
Loyalist elements within the SACP are understandably outraged, so it is unsurprising
that some of the most vitriolic attacks on Numsa have come from unions such as the
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and the major public sector union, the
National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu).
Frans Baleni, general secretary of NUM, serves on the central committee (CC) of the
SACP. His Nehawu counterpart, Fikile Majola, sits on the even more powerful, 11-
member SACP poliburo where he serves with Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini and
the ANC secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, a former general secretary of NUM.
NUM’s immediate past president, Senzeni Zokwana, who this year moved into
parliament as agriculture minister, is the national chairperson of the SACP. He is the
latest of a number of leading SACP unionists to have moved into politics at both
provincial and national level. Prominent among them is SACP deputy chairperson,
Thulas Nxesi, former general secretary of the Democratic Teachers Union and now
public works minister.
Since parliament is obviously also a “key site of power and influence” it is not
surprising, given the MTV goal, that the SACP is disproportionately represented
among ANC MPs. This, according to Numsa general secretary, Irvin Jim, is the
party’s reward from the ANC for “delivering” Cosatu to the governing alliance.
A loss of influence, let alone control, over Cosatu would almost certainly mean a
severe loss of influence with the ANC, certainly in terms of parliamentary positions.
As matters now stand, the SACP general secretary, Blade Nzimande, is higher
education minister, while his party deputy serves as deputy public works minister.
Among other SACP CC members in the national parliament are minister in the
presidency, Jeff Radebe, his trade and industry counterpart Rob Davies and deputy
minerals minister Godfrey Oliphant. One of the best known faces of the current
parliament, deputy parliamentary speaker Lechesa Tsenoli also serves on the CC
along with former communications minister Yunis Carrim and former energy minister
Ben Martins.
The targets of the ire of this faction are Cosatu’s beleaguered general secretary,
Zwelinizima Vavi, and Irvin Jim. Both, until fairly recently, were members of the
SACP.
However, although the squabbles at leadership level have tended to dominate the
news, the main driving force behind the turmoil seems to be the widespread demand
among rank and file members for a return to democratic control of the unions. This
would mean a loss of influence and financial support, especially for the SACP, but
might, in the longer term, make for a larger, healthier and more vibrant trade union
movement.
Terry Bell
writing, editing, broadcasting
specialising in:
political/economic analysis and labour
P.O Box 373, Muizenberg 7950
South Africa
Tel: +27 +(0)21 788 9699
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