Declaration of the 6th Eastern Cape Congress of the South African Communist Party
11 October 2011
We 771 voting delegates, representing more than 19 000 members of South African Communist Party in the Eastern Cape from branches and 8 districts plus our YCLSA gathered in East London City Hall from the 7th 9th October 2011 for the 6th Provincial Congress under the theme "communist call for a transition to a socialist order. The Keynote made by our General Secretary Cde Blade Nzimande, NHI Presentation by Minister of Health Cde Motsoaledi, Presentation on co operatives as sound alternative forms of enterprise by Cde Pillay and meaning of being SACP member by Cde SACP Central Committee Member Cde Charles Setsubi sharpened the quality of discussions within the 6TH Congress.
We noted that it is not accidental but a call to action for our 6th Congress to take place within Red October Month which in the recent past through Red October campaigns we have succeeded in advancing many solid alternatives, which not limited included a National Health Insurance to ensure universal access to quality health care, campaigns against "willing-seller, willing-buyer capitalist approach to land reform, campaigned also focused on the financial sector compelling legislated consumer protection etc.
Therefore in unison for 2011 Red October we will pay a particular focus on building popular power in our communities to address the challenges in our schools; we will be active in rural areas, helping to build a popular movement for land reform; and we will also pursue our anti-corruption campaign.
We met not only instructed by the constitution but to critically assess the work done since our 5th Provincial Congress held at Jeffreys Bay and develop a scientific and practical program in leading the working class in the struggle to realize its aspirations. We received and adopted Political, Organizational and Financial Report. We also received and welcomed messages of support from our fraternal organizations (ANC & COSATU)
The Congress was a resounding success characterized by robust yet constructive engagement that dealt with issues frankly but in disciplined manner.
In overall the Congress demonstrated that Party enjoys sufficient coherence and unity in action within Eastern Cape.
In all instances congress was guided by principles of Marxism-Leninism whose universal validity has been proven by historical experience especially considering that all over the world capitalism is in crisis and has proven incapable of meeting basic needs of human kind. Congress was inspired by visionary and action orientated SACP that socialism is the futures build it now.
We are of firm belief that a united and strengthened configured revolutionary alliance is not a choice but a necessity if working class interests are to be realized.
As delegates we are of same mind that the SACP cannot abandon the liberation movement or hand it over in a platter to the burgeouse. We are alive to the reality that we have built the ANC to be a revolutionary liberation movement, coupled with that we will unsure that we continue to build an independent profile of the South African Communist Party.
We as delegates appreciated that while SACP & COSATU continue to share trenches however they are not identical nor in competition but complimentary and further that the broader alliance relations in the province are fairly good but much work is required with particular reference in some regions.
For working class assurance in resolving treble ills of poverty, unemployment and inequality require cohesive, unified and strong SACP and COSATU.
We as delegates we will continue to work tirelessly in jealously guarding unity of the two working class formation in SACP & COSATU as they are our insurance in struggle against capitalism.
The Congress affirmed that there is no contradiction with socialist orientated NDR as a direct route to socialism hence we will deepen our struggle to fight against national question in race terms, oppression of women and continuous plight of people living with disabilities.
As delegates we noted and affirm our commitment to tirelessly struggle for an end to the system of capitalist exploitation in South Africa and to establish a socialist society based on the common ownership, participation and control.
On the International outlook we noted that: capitalism all over the world is in crisis in particular in US & Euro zone hence its desperation to recolonize Africa. We are clear that our role as communist is to study and analyze the world scientifically and the forces at play and therefore struggle to change it for working class hegemony. We further note the 163 anniversary of the communist manifesto and the anniversary of the Great October Revolution of 1917.
Believing that in classical terms state is an organ of class rule that ownership the means of production that has control of property.
Therefore state power remains in the bourgeoisie, Communist party as a political organization must contest state power through active participation and mass mobilisation in all spheres.
We also noted that South Africa is a capitalist state and thus all social ills are manifestations of this brutal inhuman system. We further noted that the legislative framework of the state is used to legitimize and strengthen this system to the detriment of the working class and the poor masses. This framework reflects a picture quite contrary to reality.
We further noted that the communist party in the province has grown quantitatively, qualitatively and has grown its influence.
Appreciating that the communist party must continue to be a campaign driven party.
We therefore resolved that
We will organise, educate and lead the working class in the struggle for socialism and the more immediate objectives of defending and deepening the national democratic revolution as a direct route but not given to socialist order. We will further organize, educate and lead women within the working class, the poor and rural communities in pursuit of the aims of the SACP; and to raise the consciousness of the working class and its allies around the integral and oppressive nature of gender relations within South African capitalism.
On international solidarity front as guided by MTV we will:
- Strengthen the south to South relations
- Intensify the debates on BRICS
- Have an international commission in the province and districts
- International policy framework of the party on relation to working political formations relations with Socialist parties first and foremost in Africa and Latin America
- exchange programmes with institutions of higher learning of the world
- intensify the campaign against multinational cooperations who are plundering the resources of African continent and also on environmental degration (Cop 17 and Climate change)
- intensify campaign against imperialist sponsored wars in Africa and the World
On State power after having noted the resolution of the 2007 conference and the implementation thereof, we resolved on the intensification of the MTV in all key site of power as identified in the MTV.
We affirm the correctness of contesting state power as it is the highest concentration of political power consistent with modalities outlined in MTV.
We are of same mind that the party should contest space and ideas to build the hegemony of working and to build working class consciousness.
In the immediate we will strive to build a developmental state that has socialist element within it. This should be coupled with amendment of legislation to be pro workers and the poor and the transformation of the state
We however understand that as communist we cannot sit on the sidelines and be spectators and critics to a game we should be playing. The recent local government elections saw a number of our comrades being deployed in strategic positions in local authorities. This means that we do not have the liberty of merely analyzing and criticize programmes of government. We have an obligation to perform where we have leaders as we will have to own up to all challenges confronting the government led by the alliance.
As strategic points of service, the funding formula of municipalities must take into consideration the needs of the people of the area and not be based on narrow academic accounting methods.
We therefore call for review and redesign of the legislative framework of the current structure of governance to reflect the real dynamics and to respond to the challenges at hand.
Our province remains largely rural and amongst the poorest in the country and the funding formula by South African government in the main still favors those whom have benefited in the past (pre 1994). We therefore call for the restructuring of the department of rural development and Agrarian reform so that it is able to capacitate our people and contribute to the skilling of our masses.
We are further deeply concerned in that spatial development and investment continue to reinforce apartheid structural outlook and heavily de industrialize in Eastern Cape and adversely affect rural small towns resulting in unprecedented poverty and unemployment.
On education we resolve that:
- We accept the recent President intervention on application of Section 100 within the Department of Education and place the centrality of alliance in providing leadership in this regard
- The must be an acceleration of the implantation of the ANC Polokwane Resolutions on free and compulsory education.
- Exist a need to recapitalize FET sector as it is a solution to the scarce skills in society.
- NFSAS must be a considered as vehicle to introduce free education.
- Grade R must be part of the mainstream education and certified for quality assurance.
- The department of education must compile a cooperative database so as to discontinue the system of tenders particularly scholar transport and nutrition.
- Further wished all Grade 12 pupils across Eastern Cape all the best in their forthcoming examination
On health we resolve that:
- There must be a heath summit in the province.
- The caregiver must be in fully employed by the department and be certified.
- The must be a ban of labour broker and employment agencies.
- All party activists must take keen interest in hospital boards within their districts.
- The must a NHI campaign to popularize the scheme and to regain public confidence.
Congress further elected the following Provincial Office Bearers:
1. Xolile Nqatha - Provincial Secretary
2. Mzoleli Mrara - Provincial Chairperson
3. Ndumiso Roiland - Deputy Provincial Secretary
4. Vuyani Limba - Provincial Treasurer
5. Bulelwa Tunyiswa - Deputy Provincial Chairperson
Contact:
Xolile Nqatha
Provincial Secretary 082 313 5005
