THE South African Communist Party (SACP) challenged the ANC’s role as governing party yesterday at the annual commemoration of its late general secretary Joe Slovo, who died in 1995 a year after the defeat of apartheid.

The event, which celebrates the life of Mr Slovo at his resting place in Avalon Cemetary in Soweto, was the 21st commemoration of the SACP former leader.

Speaking at the oration, SACP’s second deputy secretary Solly Mapaila said the party’s theme for 2017 was to build state power — and “selflessly serve the people exceptionally.

“The people, the majority of whom is the working class, must take their rightful position as the number one arm of the state,” he said.

Mr Mapaila said the party’s 14th congress this year “will be inspired by the centenary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, and will discuss our new position to the outdated elements of our ANCheaded alliance and the question of state power.”

He claimed that the current relationship between the ANC, SACP and union federation Cosatu was “outdated,” and called for a “revolution” in its configuration.

Mr Mapaila repeated charges the Indian Gupta business family had “captured” the state, saying: “That the Guptas have become South Africa’s top black billionaires in 2016 shows how toxic are the networks of corporate state capture.”

Last year South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma was accused of allowing members of the wealthy Gupta family to influence state affairs including appointing cabinet ministers.

Mr Mapaila called for a reenergising of the SACP’s longrunning campaign for transformation of the financial sector — ironically after the big four banks forced the Guptas to sell their South African holdings last year through a co-ordinated boycott.

He derided those “who woke up to smell the coffee only after financial institutions cut their long standing, mutually beneficial ties with the Guptas.”

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