BEFORE Polokwane, Josiah Jele and Jabu Moleketi wrote a paper on how the SACP was trying to transform the ANC into a socialist party.

The paper, "Two strategies of the national liberation movement in the struggle for the victory of the national democratic revolution", is worth reading in the context of the debate between Julius Malema and Buti Manamela.

The issues Malema raised in a radio interview are the same issues the two leaders raised.

The question is, who must set the ANC's agenda? Cosatu House, which houses the SACP's national office, or Luthuli House?

Nationalists - Malema, Zweli Mkhize and Tokyo Sexwale - are concerned that President Jacob Zuma is being dictated to by Cosatu .

It is in that context that Malema arrogantly says: "The ANCYL forms a branch with 100 members, while the SACPYCL needs only 30 members to be a branch."

What is being contested is the hegemony over Msholozi, policy discourse and deployment towards the 2011 local government elections.

That is why Malema attacks the opportunism of Nzimande, whose relationship with Sexwale, Mkhize and Kgalema Motlanthe is very sour. Malema question Nzimande's communist credentials.

Is Nzimande not using Manamela to position himself as deputy-president in 2012, as he was doing before elections?

Malema also questions the role of the UDF cabal of Mac Maharaj, Pravin Gordhan, Ebrahim Patel, Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim and Vivian Reddy by asking: "Why are Africans marginalised in the economic cluster?

I am happy that Nzimande's ambitions, opportunism and pseudo-radicalism are being exposed, unfortunately by Malema. We young people must encourage debate between Malema and Manamela.

Job Radebe, Newcastle