SACP Limpopo Augmented PEC Statement
4 February 2015
The SACP in the province held its augmented Provincial Executive Committee on the 1st of February at Big Ben Lodge in Polokwane. The purpose of this meeting was to analyse the political situation in the province and to adopt a programme of action for the year.
The international context
- Cuba-United States relations
The augmented PEC noted the potential for improvement in the Cuba-US relations following the release of the remaining members of the Cuban five after their incarceration in US jails for wrong charges.
- Swaziland
The Party resolved to intensify its campaign for the release of Amos Mbedzi and other political prisoners who are languishing in Swazi jail under King Mswati.
The second, more radical phase of our democratic transformation and the Freedom Charter
The Party has noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, which was adopted at Congress of the People on the 26th of June 1955 in Kliptown. It is against this background that we call on all our structures to celebrate this important milestone by having a series of seminars on the Charter whilst at the same time making an assessment in its implementation by our government.
It is our considered view that the second phase of radical transition is about the thorough implementation of all including in particular the economic clauses of the Freedom Charter, this in a manner that will benefit the workers and the poor of this country. The augmented PEC contends that the Freedom Charter is not article to be hijacked and kidnapped - which is what some forces and elements are seeking to achieve in pursuit of their private interests. The Freedom Charter is the product of the Congress movement as led by the ANC. For this reason, we condemn with the contempt it deserves the opportunism that has been seen in recent years from the various splinter organisations that claim to be the so-called true custodians of the Freedom Charter.
Global oil price
The meeting noted the drop in the global oil price as a positive development, domestically, for the working class particularly in a poor province like ours. The Party calls on the private sector to utilise this opportunity to create jobs for the unemployed. This as one of the ways to drive economic growth and make a contribution in the fight against the triple challenges of inequality, unemployment and poverty.
The electricity shortfall
The electricity shortfall was noted as a challenge whose historical roots can be traced from the days of white minority rule in this country, where, the planning of electricity provision did not include the vast majority of the people. We support the governments efforts to explore various electric and other sources of energy and to speed up the conclusion of the Medupi project in Lephalale whose economic spin-offs will certainly benefit not only the people of this province but the country as a whole.
Education: Joe Slovo Right to Learn Campaign
The augmented PEC concluded by adopting an annual programme of action which commits all our structures to embark on various campaigns throughout the year. This includes the Joe Slovo Right to Learn Campaign which is about dealing with academic and financial exclusion for students in institutions of higher learning. The Party has already held a very successful memorial lecture on the life and times of Joe Slovo that was held at Lulekani Community Hall on the 23rd of January. This year will see us intensifying the Financial Sector Campaign that we have held over the past two years or so in pursuit of the 2nd radical phase of transition.
The Alliance
The Party has also analysed the state of the alliance in the province and commended the Provincial Office Bearers for initiating successful bilateral meetings with COSATU and SANCO during the course of last month where a number of decisions in strengthening our relationship were taken. The meeting mandated the office bearers to further pursue bilateral engagements with the ANC with the hope of finally convening a provincial alliance summit to deal with a variety of challenges facing our movement and the people the majority of whom are the workers, the poor and the unemployed.
District Congresses
Party districts in the province will hold their Congresses before the end of this quarter. This will contribute in strengthening the Party.
Issued by the SACP Limpopo Province
Contact:
Gilbert Kganyago - SACP Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 609 0551
