SACP Might Back Succession Candidate
The SACP are debating on whether to formally back a candidate in the upcoming ANC succession war race. The SACP has in the past debated a number of times on whether to be a bit more independent (including one point when they were considering running their own electoral candidates) from ANC decision making but have always returned to the ANC fold, so I’m sketpical of them actually doing this.
I’ve always wondered about the actual clout the SACP has within the ANC. Many ANC politicians, including Thabo Mbeki, were members of the SACP out of convenience for ‘struggle credentials’ and once the ANC was unbanned Mbeki let his membership lapse (he certainly was no Communist). The economic decisions that the government has made in the past ten years are certainly have been the complete opposite of what the SACP would like.
Should the SACP decide to ever go it alone I do see them reduced to PAC levels with perhaps 1 or 2 seats in parliament, which is why they haven’t done so yet. Backing a succession candidate within the ANC could also be risky. Firstly I don’t see them backing Zuma as they did so during the Shaik trial and got burnt. If their choice wins then everything is hunky dory, if he/she loses I see the winning ANC faction making the SACP’s life pretty miserable, although how they could be marginalised any more then they currently are is a mystery.
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