SACP Brian Bunting DWC Statement on the current political situation in the district, Cape Metro

The SACP in the Brian Bunting District (Cape Metro) held its District Working Committee (DWC) meeting on 11 November 2015. The DWC reflected on the current political developments, notably the ongoing student protest in some universities and the current labour issues in Parliament. All of these are now concentrated in the district.

As the SACP, we have always believed that students should maintain the utmost discipline in the struggle to advance and defend the right to education: discipline is the mother of all victories.

Burning the University of the Western Cape, or any public property during the protests, takes us back, not forward, and works against the very legitimate struggle for free education for students from workers and poor families who cannot afford university fees.

What worries the SACP is that there seems to be other forces who are not students that are not interested in education and examinations going on, but in shutting down South Africa one institution and sector after another until everything comes to a standstill so that they can achieve their agenda.

These forces seek to undermine the student victory which was secured when  President Jacob Zuma announced zero per cent fee increment for 2016 and the commitment of the ANC government to progressively implement free education for students from workers and poor families who cannot afford university fees.

Workers in Parliament

We note the ongoing protest by parliament's workers organised under Nehawu both ordinary parliament employees as well as ANC caucus staff. We unreservedly condemn the unleashing of police on workers.

The excessive force and heavy-handed approach by police are both reckless and untenable and this inevitably leads to hostilities.

We urge the presiding officers to provide hands-on political leadership to ensure that management implements agreements with Nehawu without distortions. The SACP supports workers’ demand for a living wage, better conditions of service and payment of annual performance bonuses commensurate with an annual package. The SACP is strongly opposed to unilateralism and undermining of agreements.

Issued by Masonwabe Sokoyi, SACP Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson, 12 November 2015