BILLY Masetlha's courage to speak out against the new Left should be encouraged in the ANC.

Like Thabo Mbeki, Dumisani Makhaye, Joel Netshitenzhe, Josiah Jele and Jabu Moleketi, Masetla warned that the Left wants to turn the ANC into a socialist party.

This indicates that the NEC is afraid of Blade Nzimande's gang and that patronage has silenced sober-minded cadres.

Why does Cosatu and the SACP articulate ANC policies? Is it the Zanufication and Stalinisation of the ANC that anyone who articulates sound policy is labelled the enemy of the working class?

Look how Buti Manamela pounced on Julius Malema when he defended ANC hegemony.

Stalinisation will lead to a personality cult in which the likes of Nzimande, Zwelinzima Vavi, Manamela and Gwede Mantashe will defend Jacob Zuma just as the Soviet Union' s communist party defended Joseph Stalin

Nzimande and Mantashe are new in the ANC, hence their behaviour is different from that of Govan Mbeki, Yusuf Dadoo, JB Marks, Moses Kotane, Moses Mabhida and Chris Hani. The post-Hani communists know very little of Marxism-Leninism.

Kgalema Motlanthe, Tokyo Sexwale, Zweli Mkhize, David Mabuza, Matthew Phosa and Cyril Ramaphosa must shake off the shackles of fear and defend the ANC and Masetlha. This task cannot be delegated to Julius Malema. Masetlha has vindicated Mbeki. Veterans John Nkadimeng, Reggie September and Andrew Mlangeni must speak out against Nzimande and his new left.

Nompumelelo Shoba, Piet Retief