SACP Western Cape Provincial Congress

7 December 2003

The SACP Western Cape provincial congress took place yesterday, 7th December,
in Cape Town. 55 SACP branches from all over the province were represented at
the congress. Delegates were addressed by SACP general secretary, Blade Nzimande,
ANC provincial chairperson, Ebrahim Rassool, and COSATU provincial secretary,
Tony Ehrenreich.

Cde Nzimande called on the Congress to elect a provincial leadership that would
lead the Party in its support of the ANC in next year’s elections. He
noted that the Western Cape expressed the contradictions of our society in a
particularly sharp form. It is a province, he said, that has the highest growth
rate in our country, and is a booming tourist destination. Yet inequalities
are deep-seated. He warned against incorrect responses to these challenges,
notably a narrow Africanist chauvinism.

Cde Rassool called on the SACP in the province to foster the long-standing
theoretical traditions of the communist party. “Make the party an intellectual
power-house, and a safe-place for debates”, he told delegates. Cde Ehrenreich
also underlined the importance of the SACP playing a more active leadership
role in the struggle for “a better life for working families”.

The congress elected a new top five – secretary, Khaya Magaxa; chairperson,
Gwebs Qonde; deputy secretary, Mark Sweet; deputy chairperson, Connie September;
and treasurer, Wendy Khoza. All five officials were elected unopposed.

CONTACT

Khaya Magaxa

SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary

Cell - 083 721 0221