SACP End of Year Message: Wealth for a Few is Based on Mass Poverty

22 December 2003

As the year 2003 ends, the South African Communist Party (SACP) takes this opportunity to send its good wishes to all South Africans and people of the world. "We wish all of them a restful and peaceful period and safe travel", said Blade Nzimande, SACP General Secretary.

In particular, the SACP sends a special greeting to poor and working people of our country, millions of whom normally travel long distances at this time of the year to be with their families and friends. It is your toil, perseverance and hard work - under very difficult circumstances - that keep the wheels of our economy turning. It is your militancy, sacrifice and struggles against exploitation and oppression that have brought democracy and freedom in our country. "For our country to move forward, it requires the strengthening of your daily struggles against unemployment, poverty, disease, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, homelessness and ignorance", said Nzimande.

As 2004 draws closer, the political situation in our country is characterised by a sense of achievement given:

• the very successful Growth and Development Summit (GDS) which laid the basis for all social partners to agree to common goals, objectives and strategies on economic growth and development
• the National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Plan which has now ended long-standing tensions and disagreements, and giving hope and care for millions of our people infected and affected by the pandemic
• the publication of the Financial Sector Charter as a result of the SACP-led financial sector campaign
• the successful commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the murder of Chris Hani which included the launch of the Chris Hani Institute
• the successful 8th National Congress of COSATU
• the successful Re-establishment of the Young Communist League

Indeed our country still faces massive social and economic problems:

• HIV/AIDS
  the scope and sheer tragedy of the HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging our country means that all South Africans have been touched more or less directly by the loss of family members, partners, work colleagues, comrades and friends. The urgency of implementing the National Treatment Plan and the need for government to lead and work with civil society cannot be overemphasised.
• Unemployment
  official statistics say that close to 40% of our economically active population is unemployed. This means an intolerable life of poverty, misery and hopelessness for millions of families. The SACP believes that private capital in South Africa and capitalist globalisation are ultimately responsible for this calamity. The bosses in South Africa have continued to benefit and maximise profits without any investment in job creation. The SACP calls for a state-led economic growth and development strategy which puts job creation at its centre. Such a strategy must also seek to engage directly with, discipline and direct private capital to invest in job creation. The GDS lays the basis for this and the SACP hopes that the year 2004 can be used to take the next step towards such an economic growth and development strategy. Despite the GDS agreement, the SACP is still very concerned at the continuing low levels of investment. Between 1994 and 2000, some R54 billion rand left the country in direct investment, while only R45 billion came in. This lack of productive investment in our economy, disinvestments by South African conglomerates and continued reliance on short-term speculative capital are the fundamental reasons for unemployment. The SACP calls for measures to ensure that South African business can increase investment in the local economy. The investment strike by the bosses must be lifted now!
• Violence Against Women and Children, Homelessness, Crime and many more social and economic problems and inequalities

The SACP also wishes to register its disgust regarding the extremely high salaries and hefty bonuses paid to senior executives in many South African companies. Yesterday's edition of the Sunday Times reports that more than R50 million has been paid in annual salaries to a mere handful of senior executives drawn from just a few companies. Many workers in these same companies receive starvation wages, work under unsafe and exploitative conditions and without any benefits. This Sunday Times report shows the immorality of capitalism, and the necessity of a more equal society. "To create wealth for a few on the basis of mass poverty is simply unsustainable", said Nzimande.

On the other hand, transformation in South Africa takes places in a hostile international environment dominated by capitalist globalisation, imperialism and unilateralism led by the conservative US government which led the world into yet another profit-motivated war. The monopoly of power in the hands of capital gives it immense power to impose its agenda on democratically elected governments, particularly weak, developing societies. A powerful coalition of industrialised countries, international financial institutions and trans-national corporations work together to impose a neo-liberal agenda on many states. Therefore poor and working people in our country must always remember the need for international solidarity with the workers, the poor and oppressed people of the world since they all face a common enemy. It is for these reasons that the SACP calls for increased solidarity with the toiling people of Iraqi, Zimbabwe Swaziland,Palestine, Western Sahara, Cuba and other oppressed people of the world. Specifically, the SACP calls for the withdrawal of US forces and administration from Iraq and for a UN-led transition to democracy in Iraq. During 2004, we must see visible progress in the democratisation of Zimbabwe and Swaziland, in the liberation of the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara from Israeli and Moroccan occupation and oppression respectively, and in the ending of the illegal US economic blockade against socialist Cuba.

It is in this context that the coming 10th anniversary of democracy and freedom in South Africa and the holding of the third democratic elections in our country's history must be understood.

Given all the progress and challenges we still face, the SACP calls on poor and working people in our country to stand united in their struggle or a better life by voting for the ANC in the 2004 general election. Your vote for the ANC will therefore be important in renewing the ANC's mandate to lead this struggle given that the ANC-led alliance remains the only political force with the strategic capacity to lead our country. Your vote for the ANC in the elections will be an important step in the ongoing process to mobilise all South Africans behind common and shared goals. We cannot afford to despair and be complacent about this struggle for a better life. For all these reasons, the SACP calls on all South Africans who qualify to register as voters on 24 and 25 January.

CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel 083 651 0271
Email mazibuko@sacp.org.za, website www.sacp.org.za