SACP Free State Provincial Executive Committee statement
19 September 2016
The SACP in the Free State Province convened its ordinary Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting on the 15 September 2016 at Naval Hill Lodge, Bloemfontein. The meeting received and interacted with a political input of the Central Committee of the SACP from the convener of deployees to the Free State Comrade Chris Matlhako. The meeting also received the political, organisational and financial reports as well as a detailed local government elections outcomes report.
The PEC engaged on an insightful political assessment on the ever evolving international balance of forces and reflected on the outcomes of the recent G20 Summit held in China and the sideline discussions that took place among the Brics countries in particular. The PEC noted that the developing countries sought to put on the agenda of the G20 the need to transform the multilateral institutions and accept the fact that global economic growth cannot happen without the integration of the developing nations. In the context of the growing influential role and potential of Brics block of nations and the strengthening Russia-China Axis both militarily, economically and politically, it is clear that the imperialist forces are working hard to weaken the block, with Brazil and South Africa being their main immediate targets.
The PEC conducted a concrete analysis of the outcomes of the elections and assessed the subjective weaknesses of the ANC-Led Alliance as well as conjectural challenges facing the South African revolution. In doing so, the PEC took cognisance of these global dynamics, the nefarious agenda of imperialists and their local collaborators, and the opportunistic convergence of the rhetorical ultra-leftists with the liberal ultra-right in South Africa which serves nothing but the imperialist agenda.
On Local Government Elections
The PEC noted that although the ANC still controls the majority of municipalities in the country, a detailed analysis of the results point to a worrying trend of persistent decline in electoral support overtime. In this regard, the steep decline in several Metropolitan Municipalities across the country as well as Metsimaholo Municipality in our province are quiet alarming. The results convey discordant cries of our people to the leadership and the movement as a whole and this clear message must not be taken for granted.
The PEC agreed that among factors that contributed to the poor results includes low voter turn out particularly in traditional ANC support base which is indicative of much deeper challenges. Furthermore, instances of tempering with list processes leading to the imposition of unpopular ANC candidates and some inadequacy in the elections communication strategy with regard to packaging and conveying a compact electoral message to the electorate contributed to the decline.
In analysing internal challenges and weaknesses in the ANC-led Alliance, the Party is convinced that internal contributory factors to the decline in support across our province includes a growing social distance from our mass base occasioned in part by turning communities into mere recipients and 'beneficiaries' of top-down state - led delivery rather than being active participants and productive protagonists of transformation and delivery of services.
Additionally, the PEC reaffirmed the analysis of the Central Committee and agreed that even in our province, there is prevalence of challenges such as factionalism, gate - keeping, arrogance, personality-based politics, elevation of factional interests above the interests of the ANC and society in general. The PEC agreed that the leaders of the movement need to deal decisively with corruption, whether real or perceived relating to possible undue influence by certain business interests on some among the leadership of our movement and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). In this regard, an ongoing thorough assessment on the functionality and efficiency of the SOEs and continued investigation of possible corrupt activities within the SOEs remains a necessity.
Communist Cadres to the Front: mobilising key motive forces in defense of the NDR
Notwithstanding these challenges, the PEC reaffirmed the need to intensify the defense of the NDR and the revitalisation of the ANC as well as the deepening unity of purpose across the alliance. The PEC agreed that every communist cadre and all party structures across the province must be organised to practically be at the forefront of struggles to defend and unite the working class, our communities and the alliance.
In line with the position of the Central Committee, the PEC agreed that drawing from the lessons and beneficial role of the previous ANC National Consultative conferences such as Morogoro (1969) and Kabwe (1985), an early non-elective conference is required for the ANC to redefine and reposition itself in view of the current challenges. The buildup to this non-elective consultative conference should include widespread consultation and frank discussions with the grassroots structures of the alliance partners and society in general.
The SACP in the province agreed to intensify its political work in communities in the same spirit, zeal and enthusiasm as it did following its recently held 7th Provincial Congress. As part of the programmes and campaigns to intensify the work of the Party, the PEC adopted a programme of action which includes among others:
The Red October Campaign focusing on the rampant and ruthless criminal mass evictions taking place in farms. The provincial leadership together with the Thabo Mofutsanyana District have already intervened successfully in offering relief to farm workers evicted in Fouriesburg and will continue to forthrightly deal with this inhumane act throughout the province.
As part of the ongoing financial sector campaign, the PEC welcomes the recent Constitutional Court judgment that dealt a blow to the cunning garnishee orders. As part of the struggle against the financial sector, the PEC will be intensifying its fight and campaign against the parasitic micro-lenders, corrupt state organs using attorneys that take advantage of the poor working class' indebtedness through garnishing orders. The campaign will also focus on waging a battle against the banking sector with regards to blatant robbery taking place on the bonded-house space.
The Party will campaign for the transformation of the agricultural sector for secured food security given that there is a general trend of farmers moving away from productive farming but converting arable agricultural land into game farming thus compromising food security for the country and contributing to higher food prices that affect largely the working class and the poor.
Campaigning for the renationalisation of Sasol and Arcelor Mittal Steel is a long standing resolution of the Party and since Sasol is geographically located in our province, the PEC will take initiatives and campaign actively for the re-nationalisation of Sasol and Mittal Steel.
In preparation for the inevitable rollout of the NHI, the Party will wage a campaign in the Health Sector against the privatisation and outsourcing of essential basic health services that leads to ongoing rampant resignation of Doctors and other medical practitioners from several hospitals in the province. The PEC will also campaign for the appropriate equipping of the currently level 2 Hospital in Sasolburg to enable it to be ready to deal with possible injuries such as chemical burns that could arise from the Sasolburg industrial operations on a 24 hours basic. Linked to this, the Party will also campaign against pollution from the Sasolburg industrial cluster and mining operations that are causing health impacts on the nearby residential areas.
Water is a scarce but essential resource for every community and the PEC is worried by the absence or adhoc supply of water in various areas across the province. A campaign on the need for speedier cleaning of dams to improve on capacity and construction on new dams is a necessity given ongoing drought conditions likely to persist. In the meantime, the Party call on government to use reliable alternative methods to supply water to these communities for immediate use. Related to this, the PEC calls for conservation and sparring use of water as a scarce resource in all areas with access to water in the province.
The SACP will also interact and work closely with Cosatu and its unions to address the challenges facing our structures to take forward our working class struggles. The task of mobilising the motive forces of the NDR for a focused programme of deepening and defending the NDR is urgent. In this regard the PEC congratulate the newly elected provincial leadership of Nehawu and look forward to working together to advance the interest of the workers.
On opportunistic use of legitimate concerns of the people
The PEC support a holistic view to address the various social needs of our society and is against the commodification and use of exorbitant costs as a barrier to accessing services such as education and health case particularly for the poor. However, the PEC has noted and condemn an emerging tendency where the often legitimate concerns of the people are used opportunistically to advance narrow selfish agendas. We have seen this tendency manifest itself through formless and leaderless campaigns such as hashtag media-driven campaigns and other destructive community and university based protests. Whereas the SACP is not against the hard-won right to protest, the PEC is however against the destructive, violent and criminal behaviour often synonymous with these protests.
Issued by SACP Free State Province
For enquiries please contact:
Phillip Kganyago- Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 073 281 5183/083 650 1057
Bheki Stofile- Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 071 600 4899
