SACP Press Reslease on Successful Red Thursday

Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Northern Province, North West, Eastern Cape & Gauteng

21 May 1999

SACP Central Committee declared 20 May as the Red Thursday. Our members were to distribute pamphlets and talk to workers at industrial areas/workplaces throughout the country.  From the reports gathered from our provinces, the day was a resounding success. We managed to reach 400 000 workers. Our activists were warmly received by workers everywhere they went. Led by the General Secretary Blade Nzimande who took part in the pamphlet blitz and talked to workers at the Nancefield industrial area, the message which was taken to workers was the importance of voting for the ANC on 2nd  June and the need for them to continue taking an active part in the current process of transformation in our count. We are quite confident that the overwhelming majority of workers will vote for the ANC on 2nd June.

We firmly believe that the ANC led alliance remains the home of the working class. Over the past five years we improved working conditions and in the face of opposition from the bosses, we have passed the LRA, Basic Conditions of Employment, Employment Equity and Skills Employment Acts. These acts are aimed at protecting the struggles workers waged for many years against the exploitative apartheid labour market which was supported by South African capitalists.

Many lessons were learnt on the Red Thursday, but we believe it  laid a firm foundation for our current programme of building a strong SACP after the elections.   We reiterate our call for all workers and their families to vote for the ANC on 2nd June.

Issued by:
SACP Department of Information & Publicity

List of some of the activities which took place on Red Thursday.

1. Western Cape

 Pamphlets were distributed at the following workplaces:

• SBH in Epping and surrounding areas.
• Pep Stores, Panasonic & Simba in Parow and surrounding areas.
• Pick`n Pay & Checkers in Brackenfell and surrounding areas.

The remaining  pamphlets will be distributed from today until the 31 May.

2. Northern Cape

• Led by Godfrey Olifant (Central Committee member), each factory and each shop in the CBD of Springbok was visited.
• Eskom workers in Kimberly were visited.
• The Kimberly station, taxi rank and various other parts of Kimberly were pamphletered.
• Transnet workers in Kimberly were visited.
• A picket in support of the ANC was held during lunchtime.
• A door to door knock and drop was done at Galeshewe township in the evening.

3. Free State

• Addressed two shifts of workers and distributed pamphlets in a factory organised by NACTU.
• Distributed pamphlets at the main shopping area in Botshabelo.

4. Northern Province

Led by Thaba Mufamadi and Joyce Moloi (Central Committee members) :

• pamphlets were distributed at Messina and Sibasa , Groblesdal & Marbehall and Tzaneen shopping complexes.
• Also distributed pamphlets and held meetings at Thohoyandou, Naboomspruit, Nirvana, Thabazimbi,Warmbarths, Zebediela Orange Farm, Potgietersrus and Phalaborwa industrial areas.

The remaining pamphlets will be distributed at Lebowakgomo shopping centre today.

5. North West

Led by Jerry Thibedi (Central Committee member):

• Held meetings and distributed pamphlets at factories and mines around Rustenburg distributed pamphlets in the informal settlements next to the mines.
• Work is continuing in the Mafikeng area, today 21/5/99.

6. Eastern Cape

Led by Ncumisa Kondlo (Central Committee member):

• Distributed pamphlets and held a motorcade in Port Elizabeth.
• Addressed 1000 workers at Makwa Tea Corporation.
• Distributed pamphlets at Mzamba Holiday resort.

Led by Kay Moonsamy (Central Committee member),  Blade Nzimande (General Secretary), Jeremy Cronin (Deputy General Secretary) and Langa Zita (Central Committee member)

Distributed pamphlets and addressed workers at Isando, Nancefield, Benoni,Vaal and Chamdor industrial areas.

Reports from Mpumalanga and Kwazulu Natal are still being processed and will be sent  at a later date.

Issued by the SACP Department of Information & Publicity
E-Mail: sacp1@wn.apc.org
South African Communist Party Head Office
COSATU House
No. 1 Leyds Street - 7th Floor
Braamfontein 2001
Republic of South Africa
(Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2)
(Fax: 27 11 339-4244)