25 September 2014
The SACP in Mpumalanga convenes this press briefing on the eve of our picket and a march to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Office of the National Commissioner of Police respectively.
Release the report on Political Killings and Arrest the perpetrators
The SACP in the province has been consistent in calling for the release of the report on political killings in Mpumalanga. We dare to not fail in intensifying this campaign.
Apartheid was the most corrupt and brutal system, it killed many people but also corrupted others. Some of the remnants are still active and in full swing operations. It is easy to identify them, because they are not just corrupt but were also trained to be anti-communist. Their daily bread is planning to liquidate the Communist Party and kill its leaders which is rife especially in Mpumalanga.
We are still calling for the release of the investigative report on political killings in the province. The investigation was commissioned by the former National Commissioner of Police, General Bheki Cele. We further are calling for the arrest of the killers of Bomber Ntshangase and Jimmy Mohlala, and many others. No amount of intimidation and marginalisation will ever deter us from fighting for a just society, safety, security and comfort, political rights; no individuals have a right to take others` lives.
We cannot be mum when our government dispatches money for investigations through commissions and other structures but thereafter we do not receive the reports on those investigations.
There must an official inquest on the killing of Cde Jimmy Mohlala, Bomber Ntshangase, Juda Tsotetsi, January "Che" Masilela, Moses Marobela, Ephraim Mogale and others. The justice system cannot simply release suspects or struck cases off the court roll with assertions of lack of evidence followed by no further action. South Africa is not banana republic where, some individuals commit murders willy-nilly without being identified through investigation, arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to prison; without being held to account for their evil deeds.
The SACP will tomorrow, 26 September 2014 picket outside the offices of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to demand that the NPA must prosecute those who committed such crimes and stop delaying unnecessarily. We will thereafter march to the office of the National Commissioner of Police to demand the release of the investigative report on political killings, and to demand a response to our memorandum handed on the 05th June 2013.
The SACP will also consider lodging a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector.
Uproot corruption in Mpumalanga
We are deeply concerned by the institutionalised acts of corruption within our municipalities and provincial government departments. Since the emergence of a Lumpen Tenderpreneurship Tendency (LTT) in the province, municipalities are dilapidating to a point where the damage being caused could soon become irreparable. The obsession of LTT has and will always be to loot state resources for their own selfish, private interests and to sway political influence within the ranks of our broader movement. Time is up for the LTT!
Amongst other issues we noted that two years ago a lot of money was directed to Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) which was mandated to once and for all deal with the problem of water shortage. Despite this the province is still facing a massive challenge of water crisis; we learned that now Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) grants` money is taken from municipalities to further deal with the problem of water and this issue of water is now to be given to Rand Water. Some of the officials at Rand Water were at some stage were deployed to administer municipalities within the province. This relationship must be noted.
The CEO of MEGA has resigned and was offered a golden handshake. We see this as a loot by the LTT in the name of service delivery to the people. Lumpen-tenderpreneurs have compromised service delivery in the province. We vow to unite the people`s camp, neutralise our opponents and detractors, and isolate the enemy in the quest for a just, peaceful prosperous province.
Health crisis in Mpumalanga
We have noted with a serious concern the state of health in the province having read the Human Rights Commission report. We believe this is a serious challenge for the working class and poor - the majority in our province - who are depending on public health care. The Department of Health in Mpumalanga has never had stability in terms of Members of Executive Council (MECs) and Head of Departments (HODs); it was always characterised with chopping and changing. We were seriously concerned of what happened at Themba Hospital where patients were left unattended by nurses due to the inefficiency of, and the Department`s failure to pay what is due to them.
We are calling for curatorship of the Department by the National Department of Health.
Fight against substance abuse and drugs
We are extremely concerned by the high levels of drug and substance abuse, in particular in Emalahleni where the abuse has become widespread within our province.
The youth should be preoccupied by talent and capacity development for the attainment of a well-educated, informed and skilled nation, instead of being drawn into the shackles of these drugs especially Nyaope and Dagga.
We call on adults especially leaders to lead by example and align themselves with the "conduct befitting of a new cadre" as we advance in the decade of a cadre. Leadership should not only be defined through a position but moral standing in society and how you inspire others. The Provincial Government must take a lead.
We call law enforcers and the community at large to work together in fighting against this pandemic, and will continue mobilising our members and structures to the front!
Issued by SACP Mpumalanga
Enquiries:
Bonakele Majuba - Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 968 4877
Lesetja Dikgale - Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 076 869 4360
Tinyiko Ntini - Provincial Media Liaison
Mobile: 084 979 5999