Bonolo Selebano, The New Age, Johannesburg, 7 January 2016
Standing at the graveside of SACP and ANC stalwart, Joe Slovo, South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade Nzimande launched into a verbal onslaught on the country`s official opposition, suggesting racism was part of its organisational culture.
Speaking at the 21st memorial service for Slovo held yesterday at the Avalon Cemetery in Soweto, Nzimande attacked the DA, suggesting the party was founded upon racist tenets.
“The DA is a racist organisation. It is in their DNA, we can`t afford to give them an inch. Twenty years into the adoption of the Constitution we have to intensify the struggle against racism,” he said.
Nzimande made the comments in the wake of DA member Penny Sparrow`s suspension from the party after calling black people revelling on the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal monkeys.
Nzimande took exception to Sparrow`s comments and called for legislation that would criminalise racist outbursts in public.
“We must criminalise racism. It must be a crime. We are also calling upon the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate,” he said.
Nzimande also said that in countries such as Germany, glorifying the Holocaust was not tolerated “because it is a crime”.
Nzimande also took aim at those within the ANC who wanted to quell the debate on who would succeed President Jacob Zuma once his term of office ends in 2017.
“There are comrades who call themselves kingmakers who want to determine who will be the next president. They are doing it in a factional manner. Factionalism is a danger in our movement,” he said.
Nzimande said although the SACP, as member of the tripartite alliance, reserved its right to cross floors and contest elections on its own, it still found the alliance relevant.
“You can`t say that you want to do away with the alliance, it is irresponsible. We won`t be intimidated by the discussion for us not to contest elections. It is our right,” he said.
Speaking to The New Age yesterday, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said of the SACP`s comments that, together with its alliance partners (the ANC and Cosatu) the Communist Party was hell-bent on attacking his party.
“It`s clear that they have nothing to offer but to spend their days attacking us. When forms of racism take place we are the only party that deals with them. It shows that they are scared of our growth because we are the only party that does that,” he said.
The DA said on Tuesday that it suspended Sparrow`s membership and noted her decision not to appeal.
From: http://tnaepaper.co.za/DRIVE/main%20edition/07012016/epaperpdf/4.pdf