Provincial Council Statement by the SACP in the Province of Moses Mabhida, KZN
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Province of Moses Mabhida, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) held its Provincial Council on Saturday and Sunday the 14th and 15th of November 2015 at EThekwini TVET Asherville Campus. The Council was attended by more than 700 delegates from branches and Districts. There were also leadership representatives from the ANC, COSATU and SANCO who addressed the meeting. The Provincial Council was blessed with an address by SACP 2nd Deputy Secretary Comrade Solly Mapailaon Saturday and the General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande on Sunday. The mood was vibrant, robust and revolutionary. The youth-wing of the SACP, the Young Communist League also addressed the Provincial Council.
The Provincial Council dealt with a number of reports, amongst others the Political Report of the PEC presented by the Provincial Secretary Comrade Themba Mthembu, the Organisational Report and reports on the recent ANC Provincial Conference. Reports on drought and finances were also presented and considered. The main thrust of the debates centred around concerns on the erosion of democracy throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, peddling and promotion of anti-communism by some elements in the ANC and the media and the crisis of capitalism.
The crisis of capitalism and the economy
The Provincial Council raised its concern on the deteriorating state of the economy worldwide and its serious impact domestically. This bad state of the economy is caused by the crisis of capitalism which seems to last longer this time. Capitalism is an inherently crisis ridden system of production. If production in society was placed under the control of workers and rationally planned, then wealth could be distributed on the basis of social need and desire rather than profit. The vast social and economic problems that the world faces could easily be solved.
Under a socialist, rational and democratic plan of production, we could provide full employment with significantly reduced working hours, a living wage, housing and education for all, free health care and decent pension. Achieving this would require taking over the key levers of the economy – the banks, infrastructure, and major multi-nationals and running them in the interest of the vast majority of society, rather than in the interest of the capitalists – a tiny minority.
The Provincial Council took place at the time when the people of France experienced what can be referred to as counter-terrorism attack of a worst kind. We are saying this is counter-terrorism attack because the world is ruled through terrorism, led by the United States of America and its European allies. The Council viewed this attack as wholly reactionary, against ordinary working people, many of them youth, enjoying a night out in restaurants, concert halls and football stadiums. We condemn the murderous gang which carried out these attacks and express our solidary with the families of the victims. We with those who are injured as speedy recovery.
The struggle against terrorism must not be separated from the struggle against imperialist interference and war, and the struggle against the system which creates the conditions in which religious fundamentalism thrives.
The Council raised its serious concern of the erosion of democracy apparently in all spheres of our lives. A more detailed analysis by the working class is a matter of must. This must include the impact of this regression on the struggle of the working class and the fight for socialism.
Attacks on the SACP and its leaders
The Council raised its deep concern on the increasing attacks against the SACP and its leaders. The attacks and marginalisation of the SACP in Mpumalanga, the well-orchestrated and co-ordinated attacks on our General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande and the peddling of anti-communist sentiments in KwaZulu-Natal are only a part of a broader, well-thought out agenda of dislodging communists and class-conscious workers within the Alliance and in government.
The Council accepts the assertion that this renewed attack on the communists and class conscious-workers is propelled by a new current generated by a coterie of leaders who want to steer the ANC towards an alliance with capital. The Council warned these leaders of the dangers of marginalising the working class to appease capital and that they will not succeed. They will soon fall like any other elitist groupings of a similar nature who made such attempts post-1994.
The SACP and state power
The Council reaffirmed the resolution of our Party Special National Congress held in July on state power and vowed to intensify the debate in all structures and with the general public. The Council will heed to the call made by the General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande to build a larger, stronger, agile and more adaptable Party ready to face any changing material conditions.
The Council agreed with the perspective to revisit the participation of the SACP leadership in the executive arms of the government.
This must include intensive engagement with other Alliance Partners.
The Council further expressed its concerns and displeasure that targeted leaders of the SACP are subjected to state surveillance reminiscent of the apartheid regime. The council was very critical of a growing practice to use state resources in fighting factional battles. State security must look at the threats facing national security, not perceived threats posed by fictitious political opponents. Our movement cannot repeat the same mistakes it committed going to Polokwane.
The Council expressed its full support of the Party’s leadership and especially the General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande who has been made the target and entry point of attacks against the whole of the Party. The Council further expressed its full commitment to the struggles of the working class. And both even under the difficult times and conditions that have emerged.
Management of leadership transitions in our movement
The Council noted the difficulties and challenges that are beginning to besiege the management of the transitional period going to 2017 and 2019 in relation to leadership elections within our movement and government. We are witnessing behaviours that tend to divide our organisations, the alliance, the government and the country. Individual’s and elitist groups’ interest appear to be prioritised over the people and the country.
Our leaders and the organisations can do better than what we see now being played out. Our first priorities must lie with serving the people.
Corporate capture appears to be the greatest threat to our movement.
There are individuals amongst us who want to hijack the people’s revolutionary gains from the jaws of victory and hand them over to the capital.
The state of the alliance in the province
The Council expressed its concerns on the growing signs of a deteriorating alliance relationship in our province. There are clear indications of leaders within the alliance who appear not to value the alliance as it stands. The alliance played a central role in bringing stability and peace in KwaZulu-Natal and the victory of our movement against reactionary forces. This is how we must value it.
There has also been a growing trend to abuse the name of our State President, ANC President Comrade Jacob Zuma in factional battles. The name of the President and his office have been subjected to insults by the media, the opposition and anti-majoritarian liberal forces.
Now a growing phenomenon is the abuse of the name of the President to factionally fight and benefit factional groupings. This is a reckless, irresponsible divisive practice and must be stopped.
The President needs support of all of us to lead the country and the liberation movement successfully and not be used to divide us.
Fighting crime and corruption
The Council received the report on fighting crime and corruption from POPCRU and expressed its deepest disapproval on the handling of matters of leadership in the Police and the case of Ria Phiyega in particular. The handling of matters of Police leadership appear to be in permanent state of instability. The need for an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the instability of Police Leadership, the killing of police, the conduct of police and the capacity of the police to fight crime is growing day by day.
The council condemned the killing spree taking place in Hostels of Glebelands and KwaMashu. The Council directed the SACP leadership in the province to hold bilateral meetings with POPCRU and COSATU to look at these issue and how they affect the lives of the working class and can bet be dealt with.
The Council also resolved to hold a workers summit fighting corruption in the public and private sectors. Corruption affects the working class badly, more than any class. In fact the major benefactor of corruption is the ruling class and the elite.
Student uprising in institutions of higher learning
The uprisings in the institutions of higher learning greatly caught the attention of the Council. The Council fully supported the demands of free education for students from working class and poor families who cannot afford tuition and other fees up to the first university level.
The search for solutions to the crisis in the university sector must also look at the job security of the workers and academics.
All of these above should be linked with the interest of the country and its people particularly the working class.
The institutional autonomy of universities and colleges must be abolished.
In conclusion, the Council committed the SACP to building a strong alliance, including not allowing itself to be provoked by self-serving elitist groupings. The Council further committed the SACP to working hard for an overwhelming victory of the ANC in the forthcoming, 2016 local government elections.
Statement issued by Themba Mthembu, Provincial Secretary, SACP Moses Mabhida (KZN) Province, 17 November 2015
