12 March 2019
Introduction
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape held its Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting on 10 March 2019 at Sunbel Building, Nehawu offices in Bellville. The meeting focused mainly on contemporary political issues globally and in our immediate locality, particularly in the context of intensifying election campaigning to reclaim political power in the Western Cape. The PEC emphasised the centrality of the vanguard role the SACP should play in the fight against neoliberalism and economic exploitation.
On International Women’s Day
March is Ncumisa Khondlo month, a committed revolutionary fighter against patriarchy. The month also coincides with the celebration of the International Women’s Day. In this context, the SACP expressed extreme concern about the rise of gender-based violence and femicide. The problem requires a concerted effort by progressive forces. All revolutionaries and society in general should elaborate in action the inseparable connection between the Women Question and class struggle. The PEC calls on law enforcement agencies to act against perpetrators of gender-based violence in terms of the rule of law.
On the international Front
The PEC concluded with an extreme condemnation of the arrogance and regime change agenda of the imperialist government of the United States of America under the Trump presidency. The violation of sovereignty and the right to self-determination of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua must be rejected with the contempt it deserves.
The SACP in the province will intensify its campaign against the aggressor, the US, through concerted democratic campaigns directed at the US consulate.
The PEC reiterated the support of the SACP to the struggle of the Kurdish people. Together with Cosatu, the Party has embarked on mass action to the Turkish consulate. As the SACP we demand the release of all political prisoners by the Turkish regime and immediate release of Abdullah Ocalan.
Ten years of the backward DA’s neoliberal government
In the Western Cape, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has been responsible for the reproduction of racialised poverty, high levels of inequality and ultimately crime and women abuse. The DA-led government unashamedly advances anti-poor policies with skewed resource distribution and basic services. Resultantly the Western Cape has regressed in terms of service delivery with rising levels of corruption and collusion with private developers. The veneer of good governance has been exposed by the De Lille saga and the DA is desperate to salvage its image by engaging in insensitive populist campaign gimmicks.
Rising cost of living
The PEC expressed concern on the rising costs of living with increasing fuel, electricity and food prices which exacerbate the living experience of the poor.
Public entities
The PEC expressed concern about the state of public entities such as the SABC, Eskom, PetroSA, etc., which have been driven to the brink by a combination of governance decay, maladministration, corruption and looting under the corporate state capture agenda but as well as by poor policy choices . Public entities must be strengthened to functions more effectively and efficiently, to become vibrant and thrive in order to play their developmental role rather than be used to drive unemployment and privatisation.
On the general elections
The PEC reaffirmed the centrality of the Party programme to build and mobilise working class power to influence public policy direction in order to place the national democratic revolution on to a second radical phase to decisively reduce poverty, unemployment and class inequalities. Related to this the SACP in the Western Cape will play its role to ensure a decisive victory not just for the ANC and the Alliance in terms of its reconfiguration process but primarily for the people, the majority of whom is the working class.
In this province we are fully conscious that the ANC is divided and the elections campaign is not immune from this persistent factionalism which was worsened by the outcomes of the list process. Some self-interested leaders have disengaged and are de-campaigning because they do not feature on the list.
As communists, we will selflessly participate fully in the campaign. PEC emerged resolute to double its effort to ensure the working class comes out in large numbers to defeat the neo-liberal anti-poor DA.
Red Brigades launch
The SACP in the province will be launching its Red Brigades on Saturday, 16 March 2019. The aim of the Red Brigades is to push the election campaign with a particular focus on the workers and working class communities.
On the Cape Town Airport
The PEC reiterated its more than fifteen-year-old resolution for the Cape Town International Airport to be named after Comrade Chris Hani, former Chief of Staff of uMkhonto weSizwe, ANC national executive and working committee member and General Secretary of the SACP. Hani was murdered in cold-blood by right-wing elements on 10 April 1993. This year marks the 26th year since the assassination.
Contact:
Benson Ngqentsu: SACP Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 796 6400
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