Party Building Manual A Discussion Framework
1: Introduction
1.1 The Strategy Conference is expected to fully debate and develop a comprehensive Party
Building Strategy (refer to the separate document "Reflections on a Party
Building Strategy"). This strategy would be the basis of our party building work for
the next 3 to 5 years. It is intended as a firm basis and guide for our structures on
organising strategies, targets and how to link our political programme to party building
work.
1.2 As part of the party building strategy, it is intended that the Strategy Conference
will also comment on, and develop a Party Building Manual. Below is an outline of what the
manual will contain. The outline is basically a discussion framework drawn from current
experience and proximity to an ideal situation. In discussing and developing this manual,
comrades must remember that the manual is intended to be brief, concise, user-friendly and
adaptable to local situations.
1.3 The implementation of the strategy and the manual is expected to start in earnest
with this years Red October campaign.
2. What is the SACP?
2.1 Aims and Objectives of the SACP
2.2 Short history of the SACP
2.3 Why South Africa needs the SACP?
2.4 The role of the SACP
2.5 The SACP and the working class and the poor
3. The SACP programme (The national democratic revolution, peoples power and
socialism)
3.1 The national question and the national liberation struggle
3.2 Deepening, consolidating and advancing the 1994 breakthrough
3.3 Transformation of the state and the public sector
3.4 Building peoples power and socialism now
3.5 Transformation of gender relations
3.6 The South African revolution in its international context
3.7 Our Marxism
3.8 Consolidating working class power as a basis for building peoples power
the working class is the motive force of the national democratic and socialist
revolutions
3.9 Building the ANC
3.10 Building the trade union movement
3.11 Building a mass popular movement for fundamental transformation
4. Building the SACP
4.1 Why does the SACP organise?
4.2 Who and how does the SACP organise?
4.3 Relationship between party building work and the SACP programme
4.4 What is the structure of the SACP?
4.5 Short history and statistics on SACP membership
4.6 Tasks and challenges of building the SACP in the 21st century
5. What kind of SACP cadre do we want?
5.1 Commitment to the working class and the poor, socialism, gender equality,
internationalism
5.2 Ability and preparedness to learn new concepts and to learn from the people
5.3 Respect for, and loyalty to the SACP, members, structures, Constitution,
discipline, policies, decisions and programme
5.4 Active and loyal implementation of the SACP programme
5.5 Active membership in lower SACP structures, policies and programmes
5.6 High communist morality and discipline and exemplary conduct
5.7 Selflessness and commitment to hard work for the SACP and the broader movement
5.8 Positive community involvement and respect
5.9 Active and positive involvement in the ANC, unions and other peoples
organisations
5.10 Fighter against all forms of oppression, racism, tribalism, regionalism, narrow
nationalism, sexism, homophobia,
5.11 Fighter against corruption, inefficiency, mismanagement, patronage, factionalism
and careerism
5.12 Commitment to and practice of constructive criticism and self-criticism
5.13 Respect for independence of other structures, individuals and opinions
6. Duties and responsibilities of an SACP branch
6.1 Upholding and implementation of the SACP constitution, members, structures,
policies, decisions and programmes
6.2 Contribution to SACP structures, policies, decisions and programmes
6.3 Organise, recruit, build and service members
6.4 Regular constitutional and other meetings
6.5 Distribution of Party literature, Umsebenzi, AC etc.
6.6 Ensure continuous ideological development of members
6.7 Ensure effective and visible communist presence and activities in local
communities, issues and struggles
6.8 Conduct fund raising work and the debit order campaign
7. Effective Party building and ideological development
7.1 Basic principles of SACP organising
- Refer to "Building the SACP above"
- Targeting of sectors of working class women, youth, unemployed,
organised workers, marginalised workers, - Organic knowledge, links, networks and contacts in local areas
- Awareness of local issues and struggles
- Communication with higher SACP structures and local organisations
- Induction for new members Basic package should consist of SACP
Constitution, The Red Flag, the SACP programme and the Communist Manifesto
7.2 Basic steps in organising and party building
7.2.1 Building a residential branch
- What is an SACP residential branch?
- Get in touch with the nearest Party structure and seek resources and support
unit, branch, district or a province and inform them of your plans - Inform the other democratic structures e.g. ANC, COSATU, Civics etc. of your
plans to build SACP structures in the local area. But do not seek permission from those
structures as the Party is an independent organisation that has a right to establish its
own structures. Establish good relations with these structures from the beginning. - Identify six potential members and/or existing Party members and constitute
a party unit under guidance of the nearest Party branch - Elect a convenor and give responsibilities to other members in the team
- Discuss and implement the recruitment strategy which would include the
following - identification of potential party members, for example, workers in the
community, women and youth; distribute and discuss Party literature to all unit members
and new recruits; hold regular political discussions and education in simple and plain
language; discuss and analyse local issues, struggles and problems as part of political
education; take along everyone in education and work so as to move gradually towards
forming a formal SACP branch. - Process SACP membership and money from members through the provincial office
- Identify likely problems and obstacles to above work and plan in advance for
them
7.2.2 Building an industrial branch
- What is an industrial branch and its role?
- Adapt principles and steps outlined above and make them relevant for
industrial settings - Inform the union your intentions
- Industrial branches do not replace union structures
7.2.3 A model functioning branch
- Holding at least one branch general meeting once a month with 70% attendance
- Holding a BEC meeting and other committee/desk meetings at least once every
two weeks with 70% attendance - Holding one political education meeting at least once a month
- At least 30% women members in BEC and branch as a whole
- Attending 80% of District and Provincial SACP meetings
- Bi-monthly reports to the District and Province and regular contributions
- Implementing at least 50% of the SACP national, provincial and district
programme - Taking up 2 local issues and struggles every six months
- Sell at least 25 ACs and Umsebenzi
- Attendance of COSATU and affiliate local meetings
- Convening a quarterly alliance forum in the local area
- Taking up fund raising work at least once every six months
- Take up the debit order campaign and achieve a target of at least 50% of
branch members
7.2.4 Case studies in party building
- Rural branch Cofimvaba/Sekhukhune/Ngwavuma
- Industrial branch In North West Mines
- Urban branch Boksburg Central and Umlazi
8. Fundraising is party building work
8.1 What is fund raising?
8.2 Why should the party raise funds?
8.3 What is the strategy, principles and procedures of SACP fund raising and financial
management?
8.4 Doing local fund raising
- establish a fundraising structure composed of hard workers and reliable
comrades - also involve non-SACP members who can help
- develop a local strategy - what are you raising funds for?
- develop a strategy for the SACP debit order campaign
- set reasonable targets and work-plans for the debit order campaign and
general fund raising - set up a local financial management system
- use Party literature in your strategy
- donate at least 30% of your proceeds to a higher structure unless decided
otherwise in consultation with a higher structure - deposit the money in your branch bank account or with the district or
province for safe-keeping - never keep SACP money with an individual - assess your work in terms of your strategy and work plan. Adapt your
workplan and strategy accordingly - acknowledge people doing fund raising work
9. Distribute, discuss and sell Party literature to build the Party and ideological
development
9.1 Why does the Party produce its own literature and media?
9.2 What is Party literature and media?
9.3 Develop a local strategy to educate members and the public about the SACP and its
programmes using SACP literature
9.4 Set up discussion groups in your branch to study and discuss Party literature
9.5 Write articles for Party literature
9.6 If possible, produce local Party literature and media
9.7 Set targets for distribution and sales of Party literature and media and set up an
SACP mobile shop at least once a month in the local area
9.8 Take part in other local media in consultation with the district and the province
10. Effective and functional Districts are the life and blood of the Party
10.1 What is an SACP District?
10.2 What are its roles, duties and functions?
10.3 Relationship between branches and the district
10.4 Relationship between the district and province
10.5 A model functioning district
10.6 Case study Greater Johannesburg District
10.7 Building a district and sharing resources
11. Duties and responsibilities of provincial and national leaders
11.1 Active and effective involvement in PEC and CC structures by PEC and CC members
11.2 The basic structure of the SACP is a branch. All SACP members must be active in a
branch and perform their duties and responsibilities as required.
11.3 Active deployment and work in district and branch structures by PEC, CC, MPs,
MPLs, Councillors attendance of at least one branch meeting once every two months
11.4 Reporting back to branches and districts at least once after every CC
meeting and after every 2 PEC meetings. Councillors must report to the BEC or DEC at least
once every two months. MPs, MPLs, MECs and Ministers must report to the CC and PEC as
appropriate at least 3 times a year
11.5 Active and regular contribution to branch and district fund raising work, other
political work and political education PEC, CC, MPs, MPLs and Councillors
