Presss Statement of the South African Communist Party (SACP) Gauteng Province
27 March 2012
SACP Gauteng Province held its 10th Provincial Congress for three days, from the 23rd-25th March 2012 at the Benoni Lake Hotel in Oupa Phasha District. At the end of its proceedings, Congress adopted a Declaration that we are deeply pleased to release to the public today.
As stated in the declaration, Congress was addressed by our General Secretary and first Minister of Higher Education in a democratic Government, Dr Blade Nzimande.
Congress also received messages of support from its Alliance partnes, African National Congress (ANC), Congress of South African Trade Unions, South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), and the mass democratic movement, in particular, South African Students Congress (SASCO).
Congress was also attended by more than 400 delegates including guests, representing members in our newly established Voting District Branches, the lowest level of political mass power in our country.
Congress analysed the world situation, in particular the ongoing crisis of Imperialism defined by Vladimir Lenin as the highest stage of capitalism.
Congress resolved that Imperialism is in deep crisis more than ever before, given the scientific truth that both the neo-liberal political and narrow classical economic theories are unable to resolve the current crisis.
Congress firmly believes that the capitalist system has exhausted all tricks in the textbook, such as the abuse of the credit system as the panacea for its contradictions.
We further believe that sustainable solutions lie in the profound change of the sphere of property relations and ownership of means of production.
It is in this context that Congress firmly rejected current attempts by the SA banking and financial system to plunge the working class into massive debt by introducing un secure loans to boost consumer spending as a way to resolve the current problems relating to low economic growth and under-consumption by working class households.
We therefore seek to caution against desperate credit loans that may undermine the Credit Act, and the gains of the SACPs Financial Sector Campaign. As was the case in the USA, this has a potential to ignite a deeper crisis in the financial sector and cause a contagion in the entire national economy.
We call on the banking sector to refrain from granting further loans to the already highly indebted working class, with no income, no job, no assets (a phenomena called Ninja loans) poses a real danger to our economy
Congress also reaffirmed the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) as per the theme and most profound SACP socialist perspective, that the NDR is our direct route to socialism.
Congress resolved that in the context of more than 300 years of Colonialism of a Special Type (CST) and its legacy, the historic crisis of capitalism in the world and the country, it would not have been practically possible to resolve the contradictions of race, class and gender in the 18 years of democracy post April 1994.
It was in this context, that Congress resolved against expressions that seek to revise the NDR. Congress cautioned against attempts to introduce new concepts, such as characterising the current period as a stage of economic freedom based on the wrong perception that April 1994 was a stage of mere political freedom.
Congress resolved that this crude revisionism arises out of the defeated abstract theory of two stages of our revolution and its associate theory of pure class struggle. Congress converged on a view that the NDR is a complete and comprehensive theory seeking to resolve historic contradictions of race, gender and class in their dialectical relationship.
In this regard, Congress believe, any emphasis on economic contradictions over and above other contradictions runs the real risk of becoming narrow economism.
As contained in the Declaration, Congress reaffirmed a consistently Marxist-Leninist definition of the state as enriched by the Central Committee, that the state is a site of class contest, and that the SA working class has made qualitative advances against its class enemies to build a developmental state confirmed by various policy interventions and profound changes such as New Growth Path, National Health Insurance and review of the willing buyer, willing seller.
It was in this context that Congress resolved to reaffirm the CC collective decision to deploy communists to key sites of power and most importantly the state.
Congress pronounced against opportunistic, unprincipled and personal attacks against its beloved General Secretary, comrade Blade Nzimande.
Congress therefore resolved to reaffirm the leadership of cde Blade Nzimande as we enter the 13th National Congress.
Congress also mandated the newly elected PEC to engage other provinces in this context.
Congress agreed that this principle, of reaffirming the leadership of comrade Blade Nzimande will inform its approach in May 2012 when the CC gives guidance on the 13th National Congress nomination process.
Congress expressed its sincere appreciation of the most profound input by comrade Ebrahim Patel who delivered a Key-note Address to the Gala-Dinner and the address by the Mayor of Ekhuruleni, Councillor Mondli Gungubele.
10th Provincial Congress unanimously and without any contest elected the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) members as follows:
- Mamabolo Jacob: Provincial Secretary
- Joe MpiSi: Provincial Chairperson
- Joseph Morallane: Provincial Treasury
- Mpapa Kanyane: Deputy Provincial Secretary
- Rosemary Thobejane-Ndoqo: Deputy Provincial Chairperson
PEC Members
- Chiloane Victor
- Dhlamini Molly
- Maboye Mosidi
- Malatsi Thulani
- Matsemela Matsemela
- Mhlakaza Vuyo
- Mokele Nelly
- Molobela Jeff
- Nare Lulama
- Ndwandwe Nkosinathi
- Nkosi Duma
- Hope Papo
- Sekete Moshoeshoe
- Tweedie Dominic
- Vilakazi Sonto
We believe that the 10th Provincial Congress has a laid a firm basis for the strategic repositioning of the SACP in Gauteng to play its historic role as a Marxist-Leninist Party vanguard Party of the working class.
Issued by the SACP Gauteng Province
Please Contact: Mamabolo Jacob
082 884 1868
