SACP NW STATEMENT ON THE POLITICAL LECTURE
The SACP in the North West province held a very successful political lecture on Sunday 7th April 2013. Over 3500 members from the alliance partners and the surrounding communities attended the event. The lecture was addressed by the National Chairperson of the SACP Cde Senzeni Zokwana, the Secretary General of the ANC Cde Gwede Mantashe who presented a keynote address and provincial alliance leaders (see report).
The political lecture is part of the ongoing program of the SACP in the province to build political consciousness and reverse the lies that are being told to members of the NUM and the South African society in general. There are some peacetime revolutionaries who never lifted a finger against the apartheid government who are planting seeds of dissent and anarchy in the communities in and around Rustenburg.
They are exploiting the tragic Marikana incident where lives were lost to attack and besmirch the National Union of Mineworkers. This cabal is united by ill-discipline and opportunism.They were all expelled from their respective organizations for lack of discipline and refusal to be led.
They are terrorizing the communities around Marikana by denying them their right of association. Community members were recounting stories of coercion and intimidation where they are forced to join organizations with no known principles nor constitutions.
Workers told us that they want to return to the NUM but are afraid because there are warlords who threaten them. They miss the democratic and open discussions they used to have in the NUM.The streets have been hijacked and dictatorship rules.
The SACP has therefore resolved to restore the freedom of the people of Marikana and the surrounding areas in the coming months. We shall, working together with the ANC lead government , make sure that our people are protected and the socio-economic challenges in the area are addressed immediately.
We will work with the alliance partners and community leaders to dislodge the anarchists and the hold they have over the workers and communities. Their attempts to weaken the NUM will not succeed. The NUM is a giant that was born out of the belly of the beast that was apartheid and it survived a lot worse that what these opportunists can do. The giant might be limping but it is not shaken and will continue to represent the workers with integrity and resolve.
Going forward we shall work with community members in Marikana and the surrounding areas to take responsibility for the revolution by;
- Working with relevant institutions to identify challenges in these communities and coordinate service delivery.
- Establishing community policing forums to guard and protect the communities {women, children and the elderly in particular]}
- Develop an anti crime campaign where we improve the relationship beteen the police and communities.
- revive the "know your neighborhood" campaign in the area and also rollout other campaign like education
- Work with relevant institutions to establish cooperatives and skills training programs.
We issue a call to all members of the NUM who were misled into joining other organizations to come back and rebuild their union and defend it against warlords and continue with the struggle against poverty, inequality and unemployment. Chancers should be exposed and defeated.
Statement issued by SACP North West Deputy Provincial Secretary Pat Motubatse and Provincial Secretary Madoda Sambatha, April 9 2013
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