22 June 2019

The SACP in the Western Cape Province convened an Augmented Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting in Bellville on 22 June 2019. This was the first meeting of the PEC following the general election held in May 2019 and the State of the Nation Address delivered last week in Parliament by President Cyril Ramaphosa. An augmented PEC meeting is attended in addition to PEC members by additional delegates representing SACP district executive committees and the Young Communist League. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the political and organisational work conducted since the beginning of the year and further develop a programme to continue to advance the working class struggles in the province. The meeting was addressed on behalf of the SACP Central Committee by First Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Solly Mapaila.

International front

The PEC condemns the acts of foreign aggression perpetrated by the US administration under the leadership of Donald Trump on Cuba and Venezuela. In addition, the recent provocative actions of the Trump administration against the People’s Republic of China are deplorable. Equally, the threat by the same reckless, right-wing populist Trump against Iran is a threat to global peace.

The announcement of the application of Title III of the Helms-Burton as of 2 May 2019 is the result of a series of statements made by Donald Trump against Cuba. Its intent is to forcefully implement the Helms-Burton Act to cause a further damage though the illegal economic blockade imposed on Cuba. These realities call for all progressives around the world to embark on united action against imperialist aggression.

June Youth Month

As we salute the martyrs of the June 16 uprisings, systemic challenges confronting the youth as the legacy of decades of apartheid discrimination and social engineering prevails. These continue to reproduce massive levels of youth unemployment and exclusion from economic opportunities. The persistence of this reality is reinforced by the untransformed and underperforming economic landscape.

Recently, StatsSA released figures which show job losses in various sectors particularly manufacturing. These realities result in a sense of alienation and disillusionment to which the low voter turn-out in the recent elections could be attributable.

State of the Nation Address

The PEC reaffirms the SACP’s preliminary analysis and endorsement of the progressive thrust of the State of the Nation Address delivered by the President of the Republic. We further re-assert the centrality of the role of the democratic developmental state and the progressive macro-economic framework that prioritises labour absorptive re-industrialisation. In this context, we further reaffirm that the National Development Plan, especially the chapter on the economy, must be reviewed.

General elections

The May 2019 general election issued a significant warning which warrants a deep reflection or risk losing political power in the near future. Whilst the 57% votes garnered by the ANC represents a recovery from the local government elections performance in 2016 which disappointed many who foresaw the ANC getting less than 50% nationally.

Even in the Western Cape, the 28% garnered was a marginal improvement from the 2016 local government results but a decline from the 32% of 2014 general election. The downward provincial election results trend is a sign of possible demise of the historical appeal of the ANC amongst the Western Cape electorate.

SACP Congratulate Red Brigades

Nevertheless, we must salute the resolute commitment of hardworking volunteers in particular the SACP Red Brigades for taking the election campaign mandate to every household and every working class community in the province. The relationship with the masses must be reinforced through vigorous implementation of Know and Act in your Neighbourhood Campaign ahead of the 2021 elections.

Western Cape political landscape

What are the main reasons behind this apparent rejection of the ANC in the Western Cape?

On the one hand, there are deeper weaknesses inside the ANC that thwart its unity and that of the Alliance and the working class and therefore defeat any immediate prospects of victory. These include weak Alliance relations, deep factional divisions inside the ANC, greed and parasitic looting. The factional divisions were epitomised by factionalising election structures, looting of election campaign resources and general disengagement from election campaigning by those who were not in the list to parliament or legislature.

On the other hand, there are objective realities that impose severe challenges on the performance of the movement in electoral politics. The real legacies of apartheid era divide and rule as well as “swart gevaar” tactic continue to undermine broad working class solidarity across racial lines. Since its ascendance to power in the province the Democratic Alliance entrenched racial divisions through skewed service delivery and perverted identity politics. Hence, an assertion that DA government continues to keep the Western Cape as a bastion of apartheid racism and a bulwark against the defeat of remnants of colonialism.

As a result, this remains the most pressing challenge which requires the SACP to intensify its campaign against racial divisions, racist exploitation and exploitation in general.

Isolate the thieving elements

The renewal of our movement will remain hollow if corrupt elements are given a free ticket to loot. We will not be part of that and can never be complicit in destroying the revolutionary morality of our movement. The PEC reaffirmed the recent resolution of the SACP, Cosatu and Sanco that called for the National Officials of the ANC to institute a thorough investigation on the utilisation of election funds in the province. Corrupt elements must be suspended from all organisational structures pending the outcome of the investigation.

Retrenchment of the Multi-choice

The PEC found it disturbing that an oligopoly company in the space of digital television, Multi-Choice will be retrenching 2, 000 workers.  The decision is informed by nothing but profit maximisation.

Contact:

Benson Ngqentsu : SACP Provincial Secretary

Mobile : 082 796 6400