SACP Phillip Radebe District Council Statement
25 March 2013
The South African Communist Party in The Phillip Radebe District in Mpumalanga, having organized a successful District Council on the 24th March 2013, attended by more than 80 delegates from the 72 branches, DEC members, guests, and staff hereby releases the outcomes.
The District appreciates organizations from our revolutionary Congress Movement and fraternal organizations that gave messages of solidarity; this included the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS), South African National Civic Organization (SANCO), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA).
On the Land question
The Council reaffirmed our stance in line with South African road to Socialism (SARS) policy document that capitalism and land dispossession continues to destroy the land and impoverish our people. That revolutionary State must fast-track land redistribution process and review the property clause contained in our constitution. That massive land used for gaming and other leisure activities is curtailed and such be reserved for sustainable livelihood. That the land audit be speeded up and information on available land and its distribution is made public.
On tenderization of the State
District Council continues to condemn the outsourcing, agentization, and tenderization of the services that could simply be delivered by a capable democratic government. Tenders have opened wide doors for corruption and have enriched a few politically connected buddies in government. This has undermined the pace at which government must take in providing and delivering services and restoring dignity of our people. We reaffirm and will monitor closely the call by the Premier, Hon DD Mabuza in his State of the Province Address (SoPA) for all government officials doing business with government to choose either to do business or sell their labor power as officials.
General police brutality and school-based violence
The Council notes with shame the levels of reported police brutality and related incidents as acknowledged by the minister of Police. We remain firmly of the view that the Policemen and women should be provided with necessary training and support to serve the democratic government vision in the in line with various progressive policy positions. In some instances police are reported to even provoke masses in order to clamp on them. We demand that the police are de-militarised. In the same breath the Council condemned in strongest terms the possible reluctance of police to arrest politically connected individuals after the barbaric assaults on SACP Matsulu Branch leader for questioning corruption in the ranks of ANC in Matsulu.
The Party condemns violence anywhere, and has noted numerous reports related to assault cases on learners by CEFUPS school administration in White River. Parents, learners, school management, civil society must enter a dialogue on the matter reaffirming our view that violence cannot be a solution to societal ills. The DEC will organize meeting between ANC, COSATU, and Human Rights Commission and proceed to meet with the school to find common ground.
We will move with speed to prioritize building street committees together with SANCO, build Community Safety Forums in line with ANCs Polokwane resolution on crime prevention.
On the state of NEHAWU in Ehlanzeni region
The District maintains that the trade union movement must at all material times remain revolutionary and the question of working class consciousness is central to that. Notwithstanding the independence of Unions, we are concerned about the suspension of NEHAWU Ehlanzeni Regional Office bearers (ROBs). We hold a view that upper structures must move with urgency to address those matters incidental to such suspensions in the context of the broader NDR.
We condemn the attempts on the other side by forces to make NEHAWU a sweetheart, non-campaigning, quiet, union, while members languish in despair in the process of this leadership lull. COSATU in its national Congress outlined in its organization report how the space between leadership and members has widened leading to unintended consequences that collapse and shake worker unity in the process of fighting capitalism while building blocks for ultimate socialism. We cannot afford such sweet-heartization at the administration hub of the province. The SACP and the workplace pillar will be deepened and we will prioritise building Party units across Phillip Radebe.
On the increase of Nkomazi toll-gate plaza fees
The SACP in Phillip Radebe District was appalled by the sudden increase of toll-fees in particular Nkomazi toll plaza. We reiterate our clarion call that our roads cannot be privatised for profit maximization purposes. The Council also condemns the fact that this happens without any alternative road thereby limiting the movement of our people akin to the apartheid pass laws. Nkomazi and main parts of Ehlanzeni remains rural and impoverished so increases will not do any good to the poor. The Party will engage with COSATU within the District to campaign for a 75% reduction of the toll fees until an alternative route has been constructed.
International Solidarity work
The District Council discussed at length and welcomed the work done thus far by progressive forces particularly the work in Swaziland. That the District must influence the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Committee to coordinate a Bilateral with the Communist Party of Swaziland. The launching of Breaking the Chains in Mpumalanga lies squarely with Phillip Radebe and the District must be seen grounded in doing tangible work in influencing the unconditional return of all exiles, unconditional release of all political prisoners, and condemnation of upcoming sham tinkundla elections later in 2013. The Council has affirmed that Swaziland Solidarity Network must be re-launched in the Province.
On the state of YCLSA in Phillip Radebe District
The District Council affirms the position that the YCLSA remains a center of building Young Communists and an ultimate sustenance of our broader vision of a socialist world order. The problems embroiling the DEC have taken too long than necessary, thus the Council, as a highest decision making body between congresses resolved to form and Interim Leadership Core (ILC) to take branches to Congress. That all branches of the SACP in Phillip Radebe must help with the process of building and supporting YCLSA in those branches.
On the Alliance
The Party remains committed to the Revolutionary Alliance as led by the ANC. The Council is concerned about the posture of the ANC in this region particularly towards the Party. Communists are purged and victimized whose only crime is their love for the Party and clarity in fighting corruption. The Party urge everyone to make use of the ANCs Integrity Commission if they hold the view that they have been ill-treated. The Party can say without fear that its relations with COSATU and SANCO are satisfactory. We note with concern that the ANC leadership in this region is not taking its leadership role of the alliance seriously.
On the Media and inconsistent reporting
We note the manner in which the media has captured the non-violent service delivery protests at Mgobodi. We have taken a closer look at the reporter and the manner he operates. We are not surprised that he used the name of the SACP in that negative light without verifying some facts. The SACP will continue to stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder with all communities until they get decent service delivery and until corruption has been eliminated.
On the SACP Mpumalanga 8th Provincial Congress
The Council acknowledged the work done by the PEC as mandated by the last Provincial Congress. Council reaffirms the continuity of comrades and addition of others to beef up in our quest for a socialist South Africa. The Provincial Congress will take place at eMalahleni TUT campus in Ephraim Mogale District from 04-07 April 2013.
Issued by:
Cde Bhobert Sipho Nkosi
072 520 1647
District Secretary
And
Cde Kabelo Ben Monepya
District Spokesperson
0836628091
