New SACP boss must step up

The election of the SACP's new general secretary, Solly Mapaila, is a breath of fresh air in South African politics. He is known to be a true believer of working-class emancipation and this will make him gain respect from the Left.

Under the current political climate and with the economic crisis the country is facing, we need leaders who will lead campaigns against developments that seek to undermine the prospect of economic emancipation for the poor. Mapaila must make his mark by focusing on exactly that and not harbour ambitions for blue lights.

The Left movement is weak, Cosatu is no longer taken serious and socialists parties in the country are almost non-existent. It is the SACP that has the sober voice in politics but its voice needs to be louder than others if it is to be heard. The working class will be making a mistake by following parties that claim to represent the poor, parties that sing Marxism while it's leaders are living large at the expense of the poor.

The SACP is known to be a campaigning party, and Mapaila is the right candidate to lead the campaigns. The cost of living, as a result of growing inflation, is taking its toll on all of us. This is an opportune moment for the new SACP general secretary to make his mark.

TOM MHLANGA | Braamfontein