South African communist party elects pro-Zuma leadership 15:58, July 16, 2007

The South African Communist Party (SACP) closed its congress on Sunday with its central committee bloated with unionists and militant youth, while kicking out government ministers and sympathizers of President .

Pretoria News reported on Monday that Intelligence Minister is out of the second highest body as is Transport Minister , who was earmarked to be voted in.

Safety and Security Minister was replaced by former mineworkers' leader . But Nqakula remains in the central committee.

Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi opted out, according to the report.

Other Mbeki sympathizers left out of the SACP's leadership include trade union leader Willie Madisha and National Prosecuting Authority executive Dipuo Mvelase. He was voted out as deputy chairman but elected to the central committee.

Delegates voted in "dissident" Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, the Young Communist League's radical chairperson David Masondo and militant Zuma-hardliner National Union of Mineworkers president .

However, stalwarts and neutral leaders such as deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin and Deputy Trade Minister Rob Davies were retained.

New faces include national treasurer Phumulo Maswalle replacing the suspended Philip Dexter.

According to another report, membership of the SACP increased to 51,874 this year from 19,385 in July 2002, when its last national congress was held.

The organizational report debated at the 12th congress which ended on Sunday described this as "tremendous membership growth" for a communist party.

The reason for the significant growth was the "campaigns and principles working class leadership provided to society," it noted.

Source: Xinhua