DECLARATION OF THE 10TH PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY, GAUTENG PROVINCE HELD FROM THE 23RD-25TH MARCH 2012, BENONI LAKE HOTEL IN OUPA PHASHA DISTRICT.
We, the delegates to the most historic 10th Provincial Congress of the SACP Gauteng Province, a truly Marxist-Leninist vanguard party of the working class that earned this recognition in the last 90 years of its existence,
Representing more than 21 189 members from the Voting District based Branches (VD's) across the length and breath of our province, met for over three days to execute the tasks of a Provincial Congress as directed by the SACP constitution adopted in the 12th National Congress and amended by the 2nd Special National Conference.
We were deeply inspired by the Key-note address delivered by our most beloved General Secretary and first Minister of Higher Education in a democratic government Dr Blade Nzimande, together with members of the Central Committee, six Provincial Secretaries, and the 30 delegates representing the Young Communist League as the only communist youth vanguard movement in the province.
Congress was further inspired by the attendance and messages of working class solidarity delivered by leaders of the Revolutionary Alliance in our province led by the peoples' most glorious movement, the African National Congress (ANC), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), and the mass democratic movement, in particular the South African Students Congress (SASCO).
Based on the Marxist-Leninist theory and practice, and the materialist conception of history as the philosophical outlook of the working class, the 10th Congress afforded us yet another rare opportunity to analyse the international, national and provincial class balance of forces.
We also adopted a clear and elaborate Programme of Action to guide and inform our revolutionary work for the next three years.
This resounding and most successful 10th Provincial Congress was held under the theme, "Consolidate, Defend and Deepen the National Democratic Revolution as our direct route to Socialism."
It is in this context that we declare, amongst many, the following outcomes and resolutions of the Congress,
International situation
1. 10th Congress extensively analysed the current world balance of forces, converged on the objective fact that the world crisis of capitalism vindicates the Marxist-Leninist theory that capitalism has no solutions to the challenges facing humanity, that every solution further plunges the system in further and deeper crisis.
2. At a subjective level, Congress appreciated the work of the SACP to build the most revolutionary world communist movement that will consolidate the reawakened and intense mobilisation of the working class to overthrow Imperialism and monopoly capital.
3. Congress reaffirmed the truth that the Imperialism is on the decline, whilst noting its attempts to resuscitate its existence and dominance.
Medium Term Vision (MTV) and South African Road to Socialism (SARS)
4. We reaffirmed our unwavering and principled commitment to the National Democratic Revolution and the socialist perspective as expressed in the MTV and SARS, seeking to resolve the historic contradictions of national oppression and gender oppression as direct building blocks to resolve the profound contradiction of class exploitation of the working class, who in their majority are Africans and Black people.
5. Congress pronounced on its firm belief that this contradictions that arises from the historic character of our country as a colony of a special type under the dominance of Imperialism for more than 300 years is far from over and continues under new conditions.
6. In this context, Congress rejected all revisionist attempts of its principal and essential content, insinuations and narrow subjective claims that the NDR in the current period constitutes a deviation off the rails to achieve its historic mission and strategic objectives.
7. We therefore resolved as directed by the MTV and SARS perspective, (our vision and political programme respectively), to intensify the ideological class struggle to defend, deepen and advance the national democratic revolution and the strategic perspective of building socialism in the concrete conditions of our country.
8. Congress further resolved to place MTV and SARS at the centre of Party work in our province, and contest the current dominant logic that guides and inform development initiatives such as high impact and costly infrastructure programmes.
9. To this extent, Congress resolved to place predominantly African and Black townships at the centre of key infrastructure initiatives and programmes.
On the state and the deployment of Communists to organs of the state
10. 10th Provincial Congress expressed its unwavering support to the SACP's decision arising of the 12th National Congress to ensure that communists are at the centre of all sites that exercises power, and impact on the lives of the working class, in particular, within the state as the most key site of power.
11. Congress rejected the undialectical, narrow and abstract approaches to questions of the state and its relationship to other key sites of class power.
12. Congress further reaffirmed the Party's document adopted by the Central Committee on deployment and accountability of deployed cadres to the state, workplaces and other strategic sites.
13. To this extent, 10th Congress noted a series of factional, unprincipled and personal attacks directed against our most beloved General Secretary, Dr Blade Nzimande, holding him personally liable for collective decisions of the CC on the deployment of communists to state organs based on MTV and SARS.
14. It was in this context that the 10th Provincial Congress therefore reaffirmed its principled support of the leadership of our most beloved General Secretary, comrade Blade Nzimande as we enter the forthcoming 13th National Congress
15. 10th Congress, therefore mandate the new PEC as a province that leads the GS's branch of Esther Barsel, to engage other provinces to reaffirm the leadership of comrade Blade Nzimande in this context.
16. This we say in recognition of his leadership within the CC collective to lead mass struggles that saw an increase in the membership of the SACP to more than 150 000, his ability to play a leading role in organs of the state and the maximum unity of the SACP nationally.
Working Class Communities
17. 10th Congress reaffirmed the strategic perspective of the Party to resolve the contradictions severely impacting on the living conditions working class in their communities.
18. We resolved to work with the deal to confront the historic patters of spatial development, the current physical structure of the predominantly African and Black townships, and some of the contradictions such as warlordism, Xenophobia, substance and alcohol abuse, abuse of women and children to mention just but a few.
19. Congress reaffirmed its commitment to liberate working class communities currently suffering serious service delivery challenges under the DA control of the Midvaal Municipality. Newly elected PEC was therefore mandated to develop a programme of action, working closely with the Alliance.
Building the SACP and proposed Constitutional amendments
20. 10th Congress reaffirmed the character of the SACP as Marxist-Leninist Vanguard Part of the working class in Alliance with the ANC, COSATU and SANCO.
21. Congress noted the quantitative growth of the SACP and directed all Party structures in the province to balance this well appreciated growth with intense political education programme.
22. Congress adopted a proposed set of constitutional amendments for consideration by the 13th National Congress. Congress reaffirmed the need to introduce at least three positions to the Secretariat at national, two at provincial and to assess such the requirements at district and branch level.
23. These constitutional proposals take into account the resolution of the SACP to establish VD branches and their implication for the growth of the SACP.
24. Congress further reaffirmed the revolutionary work of the YCL since its recent re-launch in 2003, its quantitative growth and the youth's appreciation of Marxism-Leninism at this early stage of the their development. We firmly believe that the SACP has a good future in the YCL.
On the Alliance
25. Congress reaffirmed the Revolutionary Alliance with the ANC, Cosatu and SANCO. We further reaffirmed the role of the ANC led Alliance as a strategic centre of power, its historic role and consistent unity to pursue the NDR as its strategic perspective.
26. Congress appreciated improved relations within alliance partners in the province, and believes that these relations must be consolidated and strengthened on the most principled historic basis.
10th Congress, without any contest, unanimously elected the following comrades to serve on the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).
1. Mamabolo Jacob: Provincial Secretary
2. Joe Mpisi: Provincial Chairperson
3. Joseph Morallane: Provincial Treasury
4. Mpapa Kanyane: Deputy Provincial Secretary
5. Rosemary Thobejane-Ndoqo: Deputy Provincial Chairperson
PEC Members
6. Chiloane Victor
7. Dhlamini Molly
8. Maboye Mosidi
9. Malatsi Thulani
10. Matsemela Matsemela
11. Mhlakaza Vuyo
12. Mokele Nelly
13. Molobela Jeff
14. Nare Lulama
15. Ndwandwe Nkosinathi
16. Nkosi Duma
17. Hope Papo
18. Sekete Moshoeshoe
19. Tweedie Dominic
20. Vilakazi Sonto
10th Congress wished new PEC well and pledged its full unity and support for the period of their term of office.
Statement issued by the SACP Gauteng, March 27 2012
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