SACP WESTERN CAPE, DECLARATION OF THE 2014 AUGMENTED PEC, 25TH - 26TH JANUARY 2014, SADTU BUILDING, BELVILLE, CAPE TOWN, January 26 2014
The 2014 Augmented Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape Province has met at a critical stage of a political and ideological environment in the province.
The engulfment of a minority pseudo-liberalism propped up by monopoly capital has spread its reformist agenda with the deceitful intention of maintaining the status quo. This is one of the key challenges facing the Party in the Province. Our task at hand, as heirs of our revered heroes such as comrades Nelson Mandela, Crosby Moni, Joe Slovo, Chris Hani amongst many others, we will remain the most advanced, deepening and militantly defending our National Democratic Revolution.
Adjourning in Belville South, SACP Western Cape PEC members, YCLSA provincial leadership, District leadership and Leaders of our historical and ever-relevant Alliance, we sharpened and structured a comprehensive POA for 2014. 2014 presents a year occupied with a number of significant events and programmes; the upcoming second round of voter registration, the 2014 General Elections, the YCLSA National Congress and a host of other National, Provincial and District progammes. As the Party progresses into 2014 we also acknowledge our fallen heroes, pay tribute to their revolutionary legacy and commit ourselves to pick-up the spear were they left.
Imperialist interference in our continent
The Augmented PEC wishes to condemn France's on-going military and political interference on the African continent. Undermining the AU by arrogant impositions and diplomatic meddling on the international stage must be viewed with great concern. The Communist Party in the Province has concluded that the impasse between rival forces in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and other African states, as well as the subsequent effects this has on the working class, is a direct result of neo-colonialist interests yet again vying for a lion's share of stake in the economy of our continent based the imperialist exploitation of the people. Surely the USA and the European nations should be focussing on the ensuing crisis occurring in their very own back yards.
In order for us to demonstrate our contempt at French interference on the African continent, the Party has resolved to campaign against neo-liberal aggression and exploitation disguised as an international peace-keeping effort. The SACP in the Province therefore intends to organise a picket at the French Consulate in Cape Town to express and demonstrate our condemnation.
International solidarity
Acknowledging the fraternal and historical bonds with the Cuban Republic, the Party wishes to welcome Governments' Economic Assistance package to Cuba, and congratulate the 55th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The Party hopes to learn from and emulate the successes of the Cuban Revolution Revolution.
Booing at the events of our movement
The Party wishes to express its disgust at the reactionary incident of the booing and disruption at our movements' events and programmes.
Political deviationist tendencies
We also wish to note with grave concern and denounce a foreign ill-disciplined culture emulating from isolated pockets within our movement. The 1996 class project, the offshoot of bourgeoisie oligarchs (COPE), lumpen misguided youths (EFF) and politically bankrupt ultra-leftists (NUMSA's dominant leaders). The Party has judged this ill-discipline as a byproduct of the lack of political and ideological education.
DA's provocation of the ANC
In addition, the SACP in the province views the Democratic Alliance's proposed march to Luthuli House as a cheap and desperate election gimmick which will be contested and countered by the Party in the Province. We aim to mobilise progressive forces against the anti-majoritarian DA by embarking on a march to Premier Helen Zille's lush residence in Leeunhof, Cape Town.
Detractors
In dealing with deluded and ideologically inept detractors whom are in the process of attempting to derail our National Democratic Revolution, the Augmented PEC has analysed the current and historical tendencies of two opponents of the people's camp. Maintaining the unity of the Alliance is sacrosanct, the unity of purpose remains as relevant now as it was in the fight against colonialism and apartheid.
Our program of Action
The endorsement of the Party's three-pertinent-themed Programme of Action for 2014, fused with our flagship Financial Sector Campaign, aims to strategically build and strengthen working class hegemony across the province, across racial lines and in all key sites of power and struggle. Our planned campaigns will progressively unite the people's camp by advancing the themes and implementing a collective Alliance strategy towards an overwhelming victory of the African National Congress.
As a vanguard party of the working class, the SACP in the province will maintain its leading role in advancing the struggle of dignified human settlements in the Western Cape. The party will mobilise communities across racial lines in all regions of the province in a demonstration of mass democratic participation. As the Party we once again declare that the Democratic Alliance led administration in the Province has collapsed the Department Human Settlements due to negligence and its narrow monopoly capital interests.
The Party as the vanguard will lead the struggle for decent housing and sanitation. The SACP in the province also wishes to condemn with complete contempt, the DA's manipulation of the justice system to silence working class communist activists in the Province. These brave SACP branch leaders and progressive community activists have been politically targeted by the DA for challenging massive discrepancies in the DA's administered municipalities. The Party in the province has therefore committed both political and ideological support to the community members and activists of Grabouw, Hangberg, Phillipi and Valhalla Park.
Election campaign
Our 2014 election strategy is two-fold. Firstly the SACP in the Province declares its unwavering support for an overwhelming victory of the ANC. Secondly the mobilisation and deployment of communists across the province will act as a force to ensure a working class victory in the Western Cape. Through the roll-out of our programmes and campaigns, the Party will re-launch its Red Brigades to canvas and garner support for the ANC. The deployment of SACP Red Brigades will be articulated to coincide with the visit of our General Secretary, Comrade Blade Nzimande.
Building working class hegemony
Strategically making use of our cadres in the progressive labour movement, the Party aims to address one of its medium-term visions of building working-class hegemony through the launch of industrial and work place units, both in our shop floors and worksites. Strengthening working class hegemony and conscientizing the proletariat will ultimately hegemonize society and advance Socialism. The Party also aims to decisively strengthening the relations between Party structures and trade unions particular at District and local levels. This will include engagements and joint programs with COSATU and its affiliates. This will include joint political education programs in all structures of the Province.
Co-operatives
The attainment of self-sustainability through the development of progressive and proactive cooperatives throughout our districts is a priority in the 2014 POA of the Party's commission.
Gender struggles
The Party believes that socio-economic and gender challenges affecting the working class in the province are further confounded by the neo-liberal and anti-majoritarian Democratic Alliance. The SACP will continue to raise and take up issues relating to gender struggles.
Denying students to study in Cuba
The fact that the Provincial government has ideologically excluded an opportunity for students to study medicine in Cuba must be perpetually challenged.
Biased media approach
The Party notes the biased approach of media on the publication of community-based issues. We demand that the media maintain its ethical directive of objectiveness and not manipulate the masses by playing into the hands of bourgeoisie and anti-progressive forces.
Economic and agrarian transformation
The Party is advancing a comprehensive POA towards economic and agrarian transformation in the province, addressing the vital needs of the rural poor and coastal fishing communities.
Ward demarcations
The Party has noted the ward demarcations and voting districts as a hindrance in reclaiming political power in the Western Cape. We will push for a review in this regard.
Uniting the people's camp
The SACP in the Western Cape, through its campaigns and programmes aims to once again cement people's power in the province, and advance the interests of the working class over that of the minority capital. The strategic deployment of Communist cadres in all key site of power and struggle, from the rural hinterland of the Central Karoo and Boland, to the fishing communities of West Coast and Southern Cape, to the urban masses of the Cape metro, will ultimately spread the progressive values of Socialism.
The SACP in the Western Cape, therefore declares that by uniting the peoples camp, neutralising our detractors and isolating our enemies; the responsibility of advancing, deepening and defending the NDR rests with us as the vanguard party of the working class, and that reclaiming working-class-political power in the Western Cape is our clarion call.
Statement issued by Khaya Magaxa, SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary, January 26 2014
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