24 April 2019

The South African Communist Party conveys heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones as a result of the severe floods that have hit the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. On Wednesday, 24 April 2019, 51 people were reported dead in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The SACP further wishes those who sustained injuries a speedy recovery.

In addition the SACP commends the government as led by President Cyril Ramaphosa for its swift response to the disaster. More efforts are however still required to assist those who lost their loved ones, sustained injuries, lost their homes and were displaced as a result of the deadly floods. SACP Red Brigades in both Provinces are refocusing their energies in working with communities and authorities to assist in the best possible way.

While there have been natural disasters in the past, the reality facing humanity today is that the mode of capitalist production is the underlying cause of global warming and associated increase in related disasters. This is the context in which Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi were recently hit by a disastrous Cyclone Idai, one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.

The key immediate tasks facing human society is to stop the uncaring profit-driven mode of production in order to save life on earth, as well as nature. The exploitative and catastrophic mode of production must be replaced with a caring mode of production underpinned by the imperative of meeting the needs of the people and ensuring ecological sustainability.