Statement of the SACP Western Cape 4th Provincial Council
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape, members of the Provincial and District Executive Committees, as well as branch delegates, joined by the Central Committee deployees, converged at Intsebenziswano High in Philippi on the 13th September 2014 in a Provincial Council.
The issues the provincial council discussed include the international situation, in particular Russia, the outcomes of the Khayelitsha Commission, public transport and taxi violence, the Public Protector, Pension Funds, transformation in sport, and our role on the upcoming ANC conferences.
The character of the international context
The SACP noted the recent NATO summit which main objective was to provoke Russia. Further the Council noted the intensification of EU sanctions against Russia and Russia's responses to the sanctions. The Council expressed belief that the attack against Russia is a reaction to the emergence of BRICS of which South Africa is a member state.
What is clear is that the Western imperialist forces constituted by the U.S and Western European colonialists have identified BRICS as their enemy and countervailing force to their existing hegemony. The Council reaffirmed our Party's anti-imperialist policy and the need to scale up anti-imperialist strategies and action.
The Council noted the current of interventions in Lesotho, and looks forward to the resolution of the impasse and problem that have besieged that country.
The Council reaffirmed its support to the struggle of people of Swaziland in their attempt to achieve democracy and resolve the problem of King Mswati's corrupt Tinkundla regime and absolute monarchy. Nevertheless we understand that under the absolute monarchy there can be no lasting democracy as the institution is parasitic, exploitative and undemocratic.
Khayelitsha Commission
The Council reaffirm its position that the appointment of the Khayelitsha commission was an act of opportunism and the use of state resources to pursue opposition party politics with an intention to discredit the ANC-led national government and the ultimate goal of dislodging it. Those leading the commission are well-known anti-ANC and anti-majoritarians bent on undermining the will of the people.
It was not surprising that the commission was uncritical on obviously- and widely known critical failures of the DA government which compound criminal activities, such as lack of street lights and access roads in informal settlements, lack of maintenance of existing and installation of new CCTV cameras by the City of Cape Town and Provincial administrations.
The discontinuation of a community led crime-fighting programme which was established under ANC-led government known as Bambanani has proven disastrous.
As we have expected, the commission ignored fundamental issues in order to pursue the fantasy of "breakdown of trust" between the police and the community. If the commission focused on the fundamental issues it would have served to defeat the political objective for which it was established.
The Skewed Public Transport system under DA government
The SACP condemns the reckless conduct of the Taxi operators who recently torched buses whilst carrying passengers. As the SACP we remain consistent in supporting an integrated, quality, affordable and accessible public transport system. Thus we firmly believe the transformation of the Public Transport should include those who are currently operating in the industry.
As the SACP we reject the current racialised preservation of the public transport. The SACP demands the building of the dedicated and uninterrupted public transport lane towards the Cape Town Townships as it is the case in Tableview.
We call upon the Western Cape government to desist from perverse discriminatory ill-treatment of the black business taxi industry.
On the Spate of Land invasions and concomitant housing sanitation crisis
The current land invasions and the rising need for better sanitation are not an accident but an outcome of the failures of the DA in building houses and dealing with growing urbanisation within the province.
The Party further notes with disdain the use of sanitation by Madikezela as cash cow to issue tenders to his friends and relatives, particularly his brother.
The Council raised its dismay that for the past four months victims of floods displaced in Thabo Mbeki as well as Lwandle evictees are still living in community halls which is utter disrespect for their right to dignity.
The populist posture and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela
The Party in the Province reaffirms its support for all the chapter 9 institutions in supporting our democracy and the rights of all South Africans. The current populist posture involving the co-option or use of the Office of the Public Protector under the stewardship of Thuli Madonsela, in axis with hostile media, opposition parties and media leaks, are calculated at attacking the ANC and its leadership, and poses a danger to the integrity of the Office of the Public Protector.
Against this background the Provincial Council finds the Public Protector's overreaching and the outgrowth based on it of increasing attacks on the ANC disturbing, despite pretences to the contrary.
The Provincial Council reiterated SACP's call on branches of the state and institutions established to support democracy, such as Chapter 9 institutions, to work with mutual respect and complementarity based on the doctrine of separation of powers underpinning our constitutional democracy. The report of the Public Protector, who is accountable to Parliament, along with other investigative reports on the Nkandla have been handed over to Parliament for consideration and due processing.
No person occupying any of our state and public institutions must elevate oneself above their office or other institutions and engage in activities that effectively undermine them. Parliament must be given adequate time and space to perform the functions entrusted on it by our constitution, instead of being undermined regardless of the direct or indirect measures engaged in to achieve such.
The Pension fund amendments situation
The Council has noted the ill-informed resignations of the public servants as a result of the misunderstanding of, and misinformation about, the new pension fund amendments. The SACP calls upon the government and trade unions to embark on the road show to educate the workers about these amendments and in general the administration of pension funds.
On the question of transformation in sport
The Council noted with concern the regression in transformation of sport in general and rugby in particular. Of concern to delegates was the seeming timidity of leaders in our government in this regard. Our concern is that each time there are progressive pronouncements on transformation the Afri-forum, which seeks to conserve the legacy of apartheid, shouts and the Ministry of Sports capitulates.
The upcoming ANC conferences across the province
The Council declared a long standing principled approach to these conferences. As communists within the ANC our role is to advance, deepen and consolidate the national democratic revolution as members of the ANC in our individual right working side by side with our fellow members of the ANC.
We will play a constructive role to foster unity of the Alliance towards a victory in 2016.
Statement issued by the SACP Western Cape Provincial Council, September 16 2014
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
