SACP Gauteng to march against the SABC board
7 December 2015
The SACP GAUTENG Province held its Provincial Council (the Council), a meeting of the highest constitutional structure in the period between Congresses. The Council was held in the City of Johannesburg, Linda Jabane District and was attended by branches from across the province.
Following an open and robust analysis of the world class balance of forces, focussing on imperialism and the deepening crisis of capitalism and imperialism, the conditions of the working class and its relationship to the revolutionary movement as whole, the Council adopted a number of important resolutions:
SABC Board as an organ of the people and not monopoly of capital
The Council analysed a number of developments in the SABC and the media in general, consistent with the SACP 2015`s Red October Campaign that focuses on media transformation and the Financial Sector Campaign (FSC).
It noted that these developments clearly point beyond doubt to the total collapse of governance, contempt and disrespect of the profound principle of the rule of law and reactionary efforts to hand over SABC to monopoly capital.
On the SABC belligerence against court judgements and continued employment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng
The Council noted the regrettable fact that the SABC Board continues to play hide and seek with the Western Cape Supreme Court judgement nullifying the employment of Mr. Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the Chief Operating Officer of the SABC. The SACP is aware of the announcement made by the SABC Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee on the disciplinary process affecting Mr Motsoeneng.
However the SACP calls on the SABC Board to execute its fiduciary duties. It must pronounce its position loud and clear on whether it has effectively terminated Mr. Motsoeneng`s contract. In the event that is the case, the disciplinary process against him must therefore be terminated on the basis that he is no longer in the employ of the SABC.
In this regard, the SACP will urgently petition the SABC, giving them a 7 days ultimatum to explain why it disregards court judgements. The SABC can only demonstrate its commitment to uphold court decisions and the rule of law by terminating Mr Motsoeneng`s contract.
We are shocked by media reports suggesting that the SABC Board has, contrary to the announcement made by the Chairperson of the DC, announced its intention to proceed with the DC process of Mr Motsoeneng. The claim that it intends proceeding with the disciplinary hearing of an employee whose employment contract was nullified and set aside by the court is tantamount to anarchy, chaos and lawlessness.
We call on the Auditor-General and other chapter 9 institutions to ensure that SABC funds will not be irregularly spent on an illegal DC process and those found responsible for such expenditure are held criminally liable.
On handing over control of SABC to monopoly capital, Multichoice and Naspers
The SACP will also ask the SABC Board to disclose whether any tenders were awarded to, or any decisions made in favour of monopoly capital in particular, Naspers and Multi-Choice. The SABC Board should publicly clarify any relationship with these organs of monopoly capital. We believe this will empower the people and working class to understand the extent of the potential control and influence of monopoly capital on the public broadcaster.
On Digital Migration tender and policy
The SACP will further petition the SABC Board to publicly clarify its position with respect to the process of moving away from analogue to digital through the introduction of Set-top boxes. We will challenge the SABC to clarify the policy perspective that will regulate this matter and how this will impact on the tender requirements. The SACP seeks to ensure that the process of tender and policy is not riddled with corruption, is fair, transparent, open and democratic, consciously and deliberately empowering the working class and poor. We will seek to ensure that the migration process is not the exclusive domain of monopoly capital, with the working class simply reduced to mere observers, and treated merely as clients.
In this regard, the SACP seeks to protect the character of the SABC as a public broadcaster against any attempt to reduce it to a bureaucratic organ pondering to the whims of a bureaucratic and parasitic bourgeoisie.
In line with the above, the Council therefore resolved that the SACP must immediately petition the SABC Board, giving them 7 days to respond in writing to the above issues. We are mobilising all sectors of society for a mass protest in February 2016 to the SABC.
The SACP will engage its Alliance partners on this programme of action.
On Free Higher Education for the Working Class and the Poor
The Council also resolved on a campaign for free higher education for the working class and poor in early 2016 and to ensure that monopoly capital and those who accumulated wealth during Colonialism of a Special Type (CST) and Apartheid are made to pay for this free higher education. Monopoly capital and the bourgeoisie must pay for the free education of the children of the working class and poor.
Qina Msebenzi/Tia Mosomi Election Campaign
The Council resolved to continue with its campaign to build class consciousness amongst members of the revolutionary trade union movement, in particular COSATU affiliates by conducting the most consistent political and ideological training. This will be done through lectures, workshops and seminars. This programme is part of the SACP 2016 local government elections, seeking to mobilise workers to vote for the African National Congress in the context of advancing the second more radical phase of the national democratic revolution. The campaign will be followed by intense blitzing and distribution of pamphlets and leaflets at workplaces early next year.
Red Imbizo`s
The Council also resolved to engage working class communities through Red Imbizo`s with the SACP discussion document on `Financialisation`. The Financial Sector Campaign Coalition will be at the core of the conversation and dialogue with communities. Such discussion will seek to empower communities to appreciate the revolutionary work by the ANC government and its Alliance partners to continue to fight the persisting legacy of Colonialism of a Special type. Amongst many issues to be discussed will include housing repossessions, garnishee orders, desperate activities of mashonisas and loan sharks. The SACP will also engage communities on the nature of the South African economy and how it is dominated by the financial sector as well as how this sector with the least investment in the real job creating productive economy, parasites on the working class and their families. This will also empower communities to campaign for and fight for real investment in the productive sectors of the economy.
Issued by the SACP Gauteng province
Contact:
Jacob Mamabolo - SACP Gauteng Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 884 1868
Lucian Segami - SACP Gauteng Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: +2779 5220 098
Office: +2711 339 3621/2
Twitter: GPSACP
Facebook Page: SACP Gauteng Province
