SACP condemns booing at Madiba's memorial service and calls for action

‘...wage a relentless war against disrupters and defend the ANC against provocateurs and enemy agents. Defend the revolution against enemy propaganda, whatever form it takes. Be vigilant, comrades. The enemy is vigilant. Beware of the wedge-driver, the man who creeps from ear to ear, carrying a bag full of wedges, driving them in between you and the next man, between a group and another, a man who goes round creating splits and divisions. Beware of the wedge driver, comrades. Watch his poisonous tongue.'

OR Tambo, 1969

The South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns in the strongest terms the booing and disruptions that occurred at the FNB stadium yesterday, during the official memorial service of comrade Nelson Mandela. The booing was certainly not spontaneous but well-premeditated and orchestrated by an element aimed at embarrassing our President, our people and all decent South Africans. It is clear to us that some of those causing the disruption came from within the ranks of our own movement. Their behavior was not only disgusting, but it was treacherous, counter-revolutionary and an insult to the dignity, sacrifices and the memory of Cde Nelson Mandela.

The SACP calls upon all its members and structures in Gauteng, especially in the Linda Jabane District, Johannesburg, to bring to the Party whatever information they might have about who was behind this despicable behavior, so that these elements are exposed, named and shamed. In particular we need to ensure that we get information of who the ring leaders behind this action were, so that they will also be exposed, named, shamed and be driven out of the ranks of our movement.

The SACP also calls upon the government and our ally the ANC, to institute an investigation into the circumstances that led to this incident, including those who were involved in this. This incident was a shame to the nation and deeply offensive to all sensible South Africans. It was aimed at sabotaging what will perhaps go down in history as the single biggest event taking place on our soil. Sadly it was also aimed at throwing mud at the image and standing of Madiba.

The SACP also wishes to dismiss with contempt suggestions by sections of the media and its commentators that this despicable act represents dissatisfaction by South Africans. These elements do not represent South Africans, and the media must be careful that in its rush for anti-Alliance sensationalist opportunism it does not elevate thuggery into the political opinion of South Africans, thus insulting our people. We will indeed prove in the forthcoming elections in 2014 that this thuggery does not represent South Africans.

As the SACP we will intensify the class struggle in advancing and defending the national democratic revolution against all reactionary and counter-revolutionary tendencies and elements. The SACP calls for the closing of ranks by our alliance, its independent partners and entire mass democratic movement, for unity and for vigilance against splitters and wedge drivers and against conscious or unconscious enemy agents including those who could be found in our midst.

In particular the SACP calls upon all our structures to honour the memory of Cde Madiba with dignity in all the outstanding memorial events until our final farewell to this giant of our revolution on Sunday, 15 December.

Statement issued by the SACP, December 11 2013

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