The South African Communist Party (SACP) held its Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting on Saturday, 7th December 2002 at its Provincial Office in Durban. Amongst the issues discussed were the following:
1. Developments in the Province
The PEC condemns the unilateral decision taken by Premier Lionel Mtshali to dismiss the ANC MECs and regards this act as indication that the IFP is no longer committed to co-operating with the ANC in addressing pertinent issues of service delivery and stability of the Province. The rhetoric about their insistence that their act has nothing to do with co-operation can only make fools to believe their lies. The co-operation between the IFP and ANC expressed in coalition governance is founded on honesty and mutual trust. One of the core principles of this coalition government is that the Premier cannot make substantial decision, which has a bearing on the two parties in government without adequate consultation with the leader of the ANC.
The appointment of ANC MECs was a product of consultation between the two parties and consequentially any decision to make some changes required such a process, if indeed the IFP was still committed to co-operation with the ANC.
It is no wonder that the IFP has decided to be in bed with the DA as history will always indicate that the IFP over years it managed to build itself under the mentorship of rightwing forces both within the country and abroad. It has realised that it cannot cope working in partnership with the ANC to build a better future, hence its preference of the better past. It will soon learn that the DA is not the party to be trusted. It will learn no matter how late that the DA wants to use the IFP shadow to gain access to African IFP voters in order to bolster its profile as a party that attracts Africans. The question that must be asked is - why the IFP allows itself to be used as a conduit by this white racist party of the past? The answer could only be found in the old English saying that, 'birds of the same feather will always fly together'.
The PEC resolved to not allow the DA's attempt to gain access to the African poor and working class, as it is only interested in their votes by deceit. The SACP working together with its allies will work hard to ensure that these African poor and working, who are especially in rural areas are not handed on a silver platter to a racist white party. These people have as their home the ANC.
2. Education January Programme
The PEC also resolved that in January next year (2003), the SACP in KwaZulu Natal will embark on a programme that focuses on assisting learners who get excluded from public education on the basis that their parents are unable to pay for their school fees. The South African School's Act of 1996 section 5 (3) states that, " No learner may be refused admission to a public school on the grounds that his or her parents, are unable to pay or has not paid the schools fees determined by the school governing body under section 39"
The SACP during Red October campaign received numerous complains from poor families who complained about principals and School Governing Bodies (SGB) rejecting and dismissing their children on the basis that they have failed to pay for schools fees. In January throughout the Province SACP members will visit schools to observe registration and take up cases of children who get excluded from education just because their parents are too poor to pay for their education.
3. Evaluation of Red October programme
The PEC also evaluated the 2002 Red October programme, and was satisfied with its success especially in raising awareness to many people who were not aware about their social security status, also at identifying certain problems which were hampering the effective roll out of social grants both during registration as well as pay out points. To this we have made recommendations to the department of Social Development both in the province and nationally. Complains about corruption within officials and disregard of Batho Pele is still a matter of concern and as the SACP we are making a call to people that these cases should not end up being complains but should be reported to relevant authorities or police so that those involved could be made to account.
4. Organisational matters
We are closing the year satisfied with the growth of our membership and influence on politico-socio-economic matters affecting the majority of people in the Province. We are very confident that the year ahead will see our strength being multiplied. People are realising that the answer to their problems is nothing other than socialism and they are joining in their numbers in building socialism now! .With and for the workers and the poor.
For further comments
SMISO NKWANYANA
PROVINCIAL SECRETARY
Cell: 082 4687184