Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - July 08, 2007
Mpumelelo Mkhabela, Dominic Mahlangu and Moipone Malefane

Controversial Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge has been nominated for a senior leadership position in the South African Communist Party.

Madlala-Routledge is expected to be among the new faces when the party elects office-bearers next week.

She is being considered by the party's KwaZulu-Natal provincial leadership for the position of deputy national chairman.

The Western Cape has put Madlala-Routledge on its final list of nominees for the party's central committee.

The SACP will hold its 12th elective conference on Wednesday in Port Elizabeth where its national chairman, Charles Nqakula, who is also Safety and Security Minister, is expected to be voted out in favour of former National Union of Mineworkers leader Gwede Mantashe.

Nqakula's deputy, Dipuo Mvelase, head of the integrity unit at the National Prosecuting Authority, will be removed in favour of either Madlala-Routledge or outspoken ANC MP Ncumisa Kondlo.

Kondlo recently led a heated debate in the ANC parliamentary caucus in support of the public-sector strike.

Madlala-Routledge's nomination is seen as an endorsement for her courageous views on the HIV/Aids issue which are at odds with those of her boss, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

Another surprise candidate is the Eastern Cape ANC leader Phumulo Masaulle, who lost in his bid to become ANC Eastern Cape provincial secretary during last year's provincial conference.

Masaulle has re-emerged as the Western Cape's favourite candidate to fill the shoes of the SACP national treasurer, Phillip Dexter, who was suspended last month for writing a document critical of the party leadership.

Other new nominees for the central committee include Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and Young Communist League chairman David Masondo.

The SACP national conference is expected to turn into a battle between the party's factions aligned to ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma and those sympathetic to President Thabo Mbeki.

SACP structures in Gauteng are seeking to oust party general secretary Blade Nzimande, who has been in the forefront of galvanising party support for the embattled Zuma.

The province has proposed its general secretary, Zico Tamela, to contest Nzimande's position - a move that insiders say is an attempt to register its anger against Nzimande, whom they accuse of being responsible for the tension between the party and Mbeki.

The SACP in Gauteng is seen as largely sympathetic to Mbeki in his political battles with Zuma.

Mbeki read the SACP the riot act at last week's ANC policy conference, accusing it of attempting to influence the ANC leadership succession.

He also accused the party of trying to impose a socialist agenda on the ANC.

Nzimande has denied the charge in his response, carried on the party's website this week.

"The SACP has certainly not sought to 'impose' anything on the ANC, nor 'delegate' socialist tasks to it. But of course we are seeking to influence the ANC and its mass membership in a constructive, open and non-factionalist manner," said Nzimande.

Both Mbeki and Zuma have been invited to address the SACP congress.

Party spokesman Malesela Maleka could not confirm whether Mbeki would attend. He said the party had not received confirmation from all invited guests but would be in a position to announce confirmed guests tomorrow.

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