SACP Eastern Cape Provincial Working Committee Statement
13 January 2014
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Eastern Cape Province held its ordinary Provincial Working Committee (PWC) on 9 January 2014 at SACP Provincial Office in Bhisho. The meeting amongst other things dealt with the SACP 2014 program of action and made an in-depth political and ideological analysis of the socio-economic conditions of the workers and the poor.
The meeting crafted a draft program of action for 2014, a year which we view as a historic year as it is the year of the South Africa`s 5th democratic general elections. The draft program of action will be tabled in the next SACP PEC meeting which will be convened in February.
On Matric results:
The PWC meeting appreciated the continuous improvement of the outcomes of matric results across the country in particular the Eastern Cape Province. The province has for the second year in a row registered a qualitative improvement. We would like to appreciate the good work done by all stakeholders in the education fraternity, the teachers who sometimes work under difficult conditions but turn the best out of it; the parents who give support to the children throughout the academic year; the School Governing Bodies (SGBs) who play a critical role is school governing.
We wish to applaud the work done by Cde Mandla Makupula as the MEC of Education in the province with his political and administrative leadership collective, since assuming leadership of the department we have been above the 60% pass rate, which was the first since 1994.
It is our firm view that the matric results should not be looked unto as a contest of numbers and percentages but truth to the fact that we are dealing with the lives of young people with ambitions and dreams. We would like to call on all South Africans to focus on the qualitative output than the issue of numbers and percentages.
It is in this context that we are of the view that the current rankings on the matric results only give us the appearance of the output, not the essence. Whilst ranked number last on the matric results, it is important to note that qualitatively it has produced 11 038 bachelor eligible students which made it no five (05) nationally in the category; 19 179 in Diploma which made it number four (04) nationally in the category, 13 950 in the National certificate which made it number three(03) nationally in the category. It is in this context that we think the South African provinces are incomparable because of our different socio-economic challenges and geographic realities.
We have noted with disgust the comments by the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, HelenZille on the matric results. The fact that Helen Zille calls for investigation on the matric results after the province she (Helen Zille) is leading lost to the provinces which are led by the ANC is a true reflection of the difficulty of the DA to hide its character as an organization for the rich elite and racist whites. This has been seen in many fronts, including its position on the BEE and their position on the affirmative action.
When the DA led Western Cape was on top on the Grade 12 results Zille had all the confidence on UMALUSI and the markers and now when the Western Cape is led by other provinces she doubts the outcomes because of her refusal to be led by black people. The call by the DA represents utter racism which should be combated by the people of South Africa and isolate this organization of the white elite and refuse to be misled by the few co-opted black faces. We are calling upon our people to view the Democratic Alliance for what it is, an organization routed in white supremacy, an organization seeking to reverse the gains made by our people as led by the ANC.
On the 2014 general elections:
This year will mark the 20 years of democracy. It is also the year of the fifth general elections. We have made many gains notwithstanding the challenges we are facing in South Africa. Since 1994, 15 million South Africans receive social grants, more than 3.1 million houses have been built with more than 15.1 million people benefiting, more than 90% of South African households are electrified, pregnant women & children receive free medical care in public hospitals, 100% bursary to university students on the point of graduation, more than 10 million blacklisted South Africans are to receive credit amnesty, life expectancy has increased, etc.
Despite of these gains the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality mean that again in the second decade of our democracy the workers and the poor have less benefited in economic terms as compared to the rich. It is against this background that the ANC alliance must use its electoral majority to make this democracy respond to the needs and aspirations of the workers and the poor. We must use our electoral majority mandate to ensure that our macro-economic policies respond to the needs of the people, especially the historically oppressed and previously disadvantaged.
We must use our electoral majority to strengthen the people`s organs in our communities. If the people`s organs are strengthened it will help in rooting all developmental programs within our communities. We must use our electoral majority for massive infrastructure roll-out for development and job creation in our province and the country as the whole.
We commit ourselves as the South African Communists to work for the overwhelming victory of our ally, the African National Congress in the forthcoming general elections. We have come a very long way as the alliance in fighting for a united, free, non-sexist, non-sexiest, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
The SACP in the Eastern Cape wishes the South African national Football team, BafanaBafana a resounding success in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament which will be hosted by our country.
Issued by the SACP Eastern Cape.
Contact:
Siyabonga Mdodi
SACP Provincial Spokesperson
083 3588 070
