Declaration of the 6th Provincial Congress of the South African Communist Party in Limpopo held at the Makhado Multi-Purpose Centre in Alpheus Malivha District from 8-10 June 2012
"The character of any organisation is naturally and inevitably determined by the content of its activity." Vladimir Lenin, What is to done
We, the 498 delegates, gathered here the Makhado Multi-Purpose Centre in Alpheus Malivha District over the past two days, from the 8th -10th of June 2012 under the theme "Rebuilding the province in working class terms to defend the revolutionary alliance." We are representing 464 branches in all the five Party districts as well the YCL (SA) delegates in the province.
This 6th Provincial Congress was graced by the presence of the Provincial leadership of our Alliance partners (i.e. ANC, COSATU and SANCO) as well as the two PYA formations (i.e. COSAS and SASCO) who delivered messages of support. We extended a special invitation to the families of our fallen heroes who hails from Alpheus Malivha as well as the Tshivhase royal family who supported the Party throughout its campaigns in that district. This Congress also received a message of support from the Swaziland Solidarity Network which reflected the challenges facing the working class in that country under the Mswati monarchy.
We received a political, organisational and financial report which reflected the progress made in implementing the mandate given to the Interim PEC. The delegates utilised this opportunity to prepare for the forthcoming 13th National Congress of the Party that will take place in KZN next month thereby developing resolutions based on the draft Party programme, the South African Road to Socialism.
International Balance of Forces
Congress observes the continued dominance of the global capitalist system which is in crisis. We also observe the heightened imperialist arrogance and self-imposition of imperialist system led and enforced by the USA and its NATO allied group.
Amidst all these we derive hope from the emergence of the new world order led by countries of the south such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. These countries that constitute BRICS could provide a significant alternative in global politics as they represent more than half of the world population. The South-South relations should also extend to countries with exemplary models of socialism such as Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and others.
We have noted and indeed applaud the financial loan granted to Cuba by the government of South African as it will go a long way in relieving people of Cuba from a suffocating economic blockade imposed on them more than thirty years ago by the imperialist US government that has appointed itself the policeman and a judge of the world.
On Swaziland: We call for an end to the authoritative and corrupt Tikundla government system and the immediate release of comrade Amos Mbedzi who is still languishing in Swaziland prison for pursuing the struggle for the freedom of the Swazi people from the chains of an absolute monarch.
On Africa: We support the candidacy of the South African government in the name of cde Nkosazana Zuma for the chairmanship of the African Union. South Africa bears the responsibility to work for the unity of Africa in order to prevent persistent efforts of recolonizing the continent by the imperialist Western forces, who regard themselves as the sole arbiters of truth.
We further call upon the CC and the upcoming 13th National Congress of the SACP to resolve on the formation of a block of socialist parties in Africa and the world.
Congress pledges solidarity with the relentless struggles of the oppressed people of the world, most particularly in Palestine and Western Sahara. We particularly demand an end to the blockade of Cuba by the US and the release of the Cuban Five who are still languishing in US prison for defending their country against dirty intelligence tricks (the CIA) by the US which were meant to assassinate and topple Commandant Fidel Castro.
Current Political Conjuncture Nationally
We noted the renewed confidence within the rightwing circles that seeks to distract the National Democratic Revolution and undermine our democratic state. This is illustrated amongst others by the last Apartheid President Mr FW De-Klerk's utterances during the CNN interview when he said that "actually apartheid was good for blacks as they had autonomy to rule themselves in their Bantustans".
Further, the white Afrikaner racist Mr Pieter Mulder of the Freedom Front Plus had the guts to stand up in Parliament and abuse his platform by claiming that no land was stolen from the blacks as they also migrated to South Africa. The Brett Murray insult to the dignity of the leader of our people, comrade President Jacob Zuma has sealed this resuscitation of the right-wing attack on our people.
We urge all progressive forces to close ranks and unite as we march to the National Congresses of the SACP, COSATU and the ANC this year. This unity must not be mechanical but must be ideological in order to neutralise this right wing agenda and also push back the frontiers of greed and accumulation.
Political Situation in the Limpopo province
The Alliance in this province has consistently won the support of the people during successive elections in all spheres of governance. However the chronic corruption under the Mathale administration has seriously reduced confidence levels of people in the ability of government to deliver services to working class and rural communities.
This state of affairs comes as a result of the emergence of the ‘New tendency' as the nationalist bourgeoisie offshoot of the 1996 Class Project which have found Limpopo as the fertile breeding ground under this administration. It is only in Limpopo where the Premier has more companies than ordinary business people themselves!
Due to our relentless struggles together with our allies COSATU, SANCO and other MDM formations, today five departments have been put under administration. We call upon the National government to put all the eleven Departments in the Limpopo Provincial Administration under Section 100 (1) (B) and for Mathale to step down as premier.
We see no reason why he is still drawing a salary whilst government service delivery has totally collapsed. The CC and the national leadership of the ANC must intervene in this dire situation as urgently as possible if we are serious about retaining the overwhelming support of the people of this province come 2014 elections.
South African Road to Socialism
Congress reaffirms the general thrust of SARS as the document that articulates our politico-economic trajectory on Socialism. Of particular importance is that the Party must never be apologetic to contest state power as it is the highest and most concentrated form of power. Congress call upon SACP members across the country to enter the battle of ideas in defence of the NDR by actively partaking in discussions and debates about the future of the country, regardless of the limited space offered by the bourgeoisie media.
On the Alliance
We noted the poor state of affairs in the tripartite Alliance within the province. This poor relationship is particularly rife between the ANC and the Party as well as the ANC and the Party where these formations cannot deal with any issues organisationally but through public spats. This is particularly so because the leader of the Alliance cannot play its role in bringing together the Alliance in pursuit of our common programme of the National Democratic Revolution.
Our theoretical perspective is that we should continue the fight for the class content of the National Democratic Revolution. As such communists and workers we should join, be active and remain in the ANC to ensure the socialist outcome of the NDR. We remain unshaken in our determination to build and defend the Alliance. In this regard, the Congress mandated the newly elected PEC to engage with the ANC PEC with an intention of strengthening the Alliance between the two parties since this relationship should not be based on personalities but a common programme. In the same token, we committed ourselves to strengthening and deepening our good relationship with COSATU and SANCO.
Education Crisis in the province
We noted the crisis in education in the province. This is marked by the near collapse of the primary and secondary education system. Some schools are still not having textbooks with only 3 months remaining to exams and others offering lessons under trees during this winter season.
Congress also noted the continuous crisis at the University of Limpopo where the management consistently continues to victimise the leadership of the SRC and PYA formations. These student leaders are victims whenever they point out issues of corruption at the University. We therefore call upon the Higher Education Ministry to institute a team to investigate the crisis at this University with a view to put its management under administration should the situation necessitates such action.
Comrades Marathon
We congratulate the son of the rural working class village from Limpopo, Ludwick Mamabolo for winning the Comrades Marathon. The province should take advantage of this achievement to ensure that more potential is unravelled through the establishment of Sports Academies.
SACP New Provincial Leadership:
This 6th Congress has unanimously elected the following collective of cadres to lead the SACP in Limpopo for the next term of office in line with the SACP Constitution.:
Provincial Secretary: Gilbert Kganyago (m)
Provincial Chairperson: Jacob "Teenage" Monama (m)
Provincial Treasurer: Phophi Ramathuba (f)
Deputy Provincial Secretary: Goodman Mitileni (m)
Deputy Provincial Chairperson: Maphiswana Thixedzwi (m)
Statement issued by the SACP Limpopo, June 11 2012
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