Johannesburg — WHILE the South African Communist Party (SACP) will not contest the 2011 local government elections under its own banner, it will not take a hands-off approach in the selection of candidates, general secretary Blade Nzimande said yesterday.

This week's special SACP congress, which starts in Polokwane on Wednesday, will discuss in detail how to make the list process of the African National Congress (ANC) for the 2011 municipal process "more inclusive", he told Business Day.

The decision not to oppose the ruling party at the municipal polls was taken at the SACP's policy conference, which was held last year.

"The state of local government is a major part of our discussions, and given recent examples of how a closed process led to poor candidates emerging, we need to ensure that genuine leaders backed by the communities emerge," Nzimande said.

Nzimande said the "social distance" between political elites and communities often resulted in poor choices during lists processes.

"We need to ensure that real leaders who enjoy broad support among communities emerge on the lists, and not just pick those who are powerful or have access to resources," he said.

Nzimande was mindful, however, that the autonomy of the ANC should not be undermined in the process. "No communist should be used to fight battles in allied organisations," he said.

Some ANC leaders have fingered SACP members in hot spots such as Diepsloot for using community unhappiness over slack delivery as a cover to further their own political careers. Nzimande said this was the case in some areas but it was the "exception rather than the rule".

Historically, lists processes in the ANC and the tripartite alliance are fiercely contested. A ramped-up SACP role during this period could add to tension in the alliance.

The SACP will also back an overhaul of municipal government that is being spearheaded by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional A ffairs.

"We welcome the state's approach as it incorporated much of what we have been agitating for. The proposal to strengthen ward committees is particularly important as it will deepen community participation and ensure greater legitimacy."

Buoyed by what he described as the SACP's inroads in influencing government policy, Nzimande said that a key issue for the special congress would be to evaluate the progress of the SACP's medium- term strategic vision.

"One of the decisions was how to build working-class power in key sites, and I think we have made significant progress.

"The commitment to review the Reserve Bank mandate, the centrality of rural development in economic policy, advances on industrial policy and the resolutions adopted at the Polokwane conference are positive signs of advancement," he said.