22 October 2019

The Secretariat of the SACP in the Western Cape met yesterday 21 October 2019 to consider and assess pertinent developments in the fluid political situation of the Western Cape province. The standing weekly meeting was attended by full-time office bearers and leadership core of the Young Communist League of South Africa in the Western Cape.

On public transport impasse & safety

The SACP Western Cape Secretariat noted the recent impasse between the City of Cape Town law enforcement and the taxi industry which resulted in major interruptions within the transport system. These intermittent surges of hostilities between the taxi industry and city authorities require lasting solutions by responsible leadership to ensure uninterrupted movement of working people and commuters in the metro.

Further, the Secretariat expressed outrage at the recent conflict between train commuters and security guards in Heiderveld which allegedly resulted in the fatal shooting of a commuter and stabbing of another security guard. These incidents point to a deeper problem about the need to overhaul the transport system to improve its safety, reliability and affordability, for which the SACP and Cosatu have long campaigned.

Intensify basic service delivery campaign

The SACP Western Cape Secretariat also appreciated the basic service delivery mass actions undertaken by our structures as part of our Red October campaign to force the DA led City of Cape Town to deliver quality services for improvement of human dignity in working-class communities. These actions need to be intensified to advance working class struggles for access to decent services.

Further, the Party rejects any efforts by reactionary elements that seek to undermine the genuine demands of the people. In this regard, all working class communities will become sites of protest until these demands are fulfilled.

Fluid political environment and inherent contradictions – the identity crisis of the DA and Moral Crisis of the ANC

In this respect, the Secretariat noted the circus that is playing out in the DA following the re-emergence of Helen Zille within the leadership echelons of the DA. The crisis obtains in the recycling of an unrehabilitated racist and colonialism apologist Zille, who demonstrated the rejection of Maimane’s overtures towards the Black voters in favour of preserving White privilege. These developments simultaneously weakened Maimane and emboldened Zille and her ilk. The elevation of Zille also unravelled resulting in the ejection of some of the rented leadership in the form of Herman Mashaba.

Zero tolerance for organised crime

The SACP Western Cape Secretariat is gravely concerned by the regressive conduct of the Western Cape ANC Interim Provincial Committee leader, Comrade Ronalda Nalimango, of unilaterally issuing statements laced with disdain for law enforcement. These statements contradict the ANC 54^th National Conference resolutions on law enforcement and the rule of law. Whilst her statement is understandable in calling for balance in dealing with fraud and corruption cases, it is dangerous to use the organisation to defend individuals who are fingered in fraudulent & corrupt practices. Therefore, the defence for Dr Iqbal Surve is not justifiable and does nothing to contribute to renewal of the revolutionary morality of the movement. This is indeed a confirmation of Thomas Sankara’s observation that “he who feeds you controls you”.

The statement by Comrade Nalimango epitomises the deeper challenge facing the ANC of compromised individuals who use the name of the organisation to do bidding and dirty deals with corrupt individuals. What is worse is the seriousness of the allegations facing Dr Surve where millions of workers’ pension funds were corrupted through his entities.

It must be clear that Dr Surve is not above the law and accordingly search & seizure is one of the instruments available to law enforcement in the fight against rampant organised crime.

Contact:

SACP Provincial Secretary

Benson Ngqentsu

Mobile: (+27)827966400