We were the first to speak out about 'state capture' - SACP

The SA Communist Party (SACP) has dismissed claims made by former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi that the party had to "take responsibility for the mess" the country was in, following allegations about the Gupta family's influence over government.

"The SACP was the first organisation to come out and say let us take responsibility for the revolution," spokesperson Alex Mashilo told News24 on Tuesday.

"It was the first organisation... to say our revolution committed the following mistakes."

In an interview with News24, Vavi said SACP and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe needed to take responsibility for the "mess we are finding ourselves in".

"Just like I am taking the responsibility for my own role in the run-up to 2007," he said.
Vavi questioned why they were expressing shock now.

But Mashilo on Tuesday referred to a 2014 statement by the SACP's augmented central committee in which the party raised concerns about the increasing influence of business people in state appointments.

"When this chap [Vavi] says we are just coming out now... it's opportunism. Where was this gentleman to come out in support of the party?" he said.

In the statement issued on November 20 2014, the SACP said: "There are also widespread indications of money politics at play and even of business people having a direct hand into appointments into key positions within the state."

The augmented central committee was talking about a "regime-change agenda emanating from disparate quarters".