2005-11-20,+SACP+pleads+for+end+to+anti-Mbeki+action,+Star

= SACP pleads for end to anti-Mbeki action =

By Political Staff**
 * The Star, Johannesburg, October 19, 2005.

The South African Communist Party has echoed the calls for Jacob Zuma's supporters to desist from attacking other ANC and alliance leaders. But it also called for an urgent political solution to the crisis in the ruling party.

Blade Nzimande, the SACP general secretary, yesterday said the party wanted to "persuade comrades to desist from such attacks".

He was referring to last week's anti-Mbeki sentiment, expressed by Zuma's supporters outside court in Durban. However, he acknowledged that the protesters had a right to support the former deputy president.

"We feel that this whole issue and what is happening requires urgency to deal with this matter and its underlying causes.

"It is clear that, as the leadership, we must accept that there is a lot of anger among our people about the way they see how (Zuma) has been treated.

"We must listen to them. We feel that, as the SACP, this is a political matter that requires a political solution," he said.

Nzimande was speaking a day after the ANC's national working committee (NWC) threatened those who brought the ANC into disrepute with disciplinary action.

"The organisation takes strong exception to such conduct as the burning of ANC T-shirts, shouting insults about President Thabo Mbeki and shouting down ANC KwaZulu Natal provincial chairperson S'bu Ndebele," an ANC NWC statement said.

However, no fingers were pointed at Zuma, who appears to have breached a September 9 agreement thrashed out by senior ANC leaders, or the ANC Youth League, which before the court appearance was boasting about organising activities in Durban.

Zuma meanwhile was due to address students at the Vaal University of Technology today, along with ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula.

He and Mbalula are also expected to address a youth rally in Limpopo in a fortnight's time.

This is despite an agreement between Mbeki and Zuma to appear jointly at rallies and regional general councils.

The tripartite alliance secretariat was scheduled to meet today, and although it was expected to concentrate on local government elections, the Zuma issue was also expected to be canvassed.

The ANC's national executive committee meeting next month is expected to be decisive regarding the Zuma affair.

From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=2952337