SACP Western Cape Provincial Council Declaration
3 February 2014
Our first Provincial Council of 2014, representing branches and districts across the province met in Intsebenziswano, Phillipi on Sunday, 2 February 2014. What transpired was a comprehensive presentation and discussion of reports, outlining a political synopsis and Party analysis of international, national, provincial and local occurrences. The included an overview of the state of the organisation and the treasury in the province. Most critical was the charting and adoption of the programme of action for 2014 accompanied by the Partys election strategy.
International context
The Provincial Council deliberated on issues pertaining to developments affecting the working class on the African continent. The rise in foreign, neo-liberal and imperialist interventions in African states such as CAR, DRC, Mali and South Sudan are serious problems. The historical legacy of colonialism in its remnant infrastructure along with numerous other contributory factors, continue to stunt socio-economic growth and create instability on the African Continent.
The Party will strengthen and intensify its role in solidarity with the working class, both at home and abroad, and not solely on the African continent but with all fraternal countries, organisations and global working class citizenry. This is inclusive of but not limited to the struggle of our Palestinian Comrades, the on-going campaign for the release of the Cuban 5 from US prisons and the strengthening of ties and cooperation with progressive Latin American states who are constantly being economically, politically and subversively bullied by imperialist North America.
Domestic context
The Provincial Council deliberated on the Partys two-tiered approach to the 2014 General Elections. Although the Party at a national-level has reached the highest membership since its unbanning in 1990, provincially the task remains to consolidate working class hegemony across racial lines in all communities. Together with our Alliance partners, the Party aims to work towards an overwhelming victory of the African National Congress in the 2014 General Elections. The historical Alliance between the Party and the ANC remains ever relevant, tried and tested on the battlefield, in the struggle against colonialism and apartheid, during the precursor discussions and negotiations towards our democratic breakthrough, and on a continuous basis in the defence, deepening and advancement of the National Democratic Revolution. The Partys resolute progress in taking responsibility of the NDR is, and always will be unwavering. As we enter into the second phase of transition in our democratic breakthrough, the Party aims to commit and deploy its Communist cadres to all key sites of power and all key sites of struggle in the run-up to elections and thereafter.
The Provincial council also raised its discontent over the Public Protectors method of conducting investigations. Suffice it to say the perpetual leaks of the Office of the Public Protectors reports is a major cause for concern for the Party, in particular the mismanagement of the Nkandla report and the continuous delays of releasing these findings. The Provincial Council believes that Advocate Madonselas office is playing to the gallery. We therefore view the release of the report as nothing but an attempt to shift a focus from the state of the nation.
The Provincial Council welcomes the intervention of the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Comrade Blade Nzimande, in the on-going resolution of the challenges facing our post-school institutions. Prior to this intervention the Minister met with the SASCO leadership to look into the concerns and challenges of students during this period of registration.
SACP Western Cape Key Campaigns and Strategies 2014
Following the successful conclusion of the Augmented PEC, held from 25 to 26 January 2014, the Provincial Council discussed and adopted the Partys proposed three-themed programme of action. The SACPs flagship Financial Sector Campaign will be perpetually linked with the vanguard role of the Party and responsibility in The Struggle for Dignified Human Settlements Campaign. Inclusive of this responsibility is the Partys pronouncement made at the Augmented PEC, that the SACP in the Province will lead the on-going struggle of the provision of basic services in all working class communities in the Western Cape.
The Partys plan to build and strengthen working class hegemony through the establishment of workplace and industrial units is another key campaign attached to our 2014 Programme of Action. Conscientising workers both politically and ideologically, in the attainment of one of the aims in our medium term vision (MTV) will be progressed through the Partys implementation of our campaign on Building SACP Units in our Workplaces.
SACP Western Cape 2014 Election Strategy
The Party will focus on two key aims in the run-up to the 2014 elections. Firstly, the SACP in the province will work towards the overwhelming victory of the ANC. Additionally the SACP in the province will make use of the election campaign as a mobilising mechanism to build and strengthen Party structures across the Western Cape.
From February onwards the Party will train, re-launch and deploy its Red Brigades in all Districts of the province, consisting of branch and district activists capacitated to secure the aims and objectives outlined. The Red Brigades will undergo a thorough training of the ANC Manifesto in conjunction with the successes and proposed plans and objectives covering the next five years. Lastly the Red Brigades will also be trained on their role as an independent yet joint Alliance elections-mechanism working towards an ANC victory. The launch and deployment of the Red Brigades will coincide with the visit to the Western Cape of the General Secretary, Comrade Blade Nzimande as well as the Cuban Ambassador, Comrade Carlos Fernandez de Cossio.
Expulsion of Comrade Loyiso Nkohla
The decision to expel Comrade Loyiso Nkohla from the Council of the City of Cape Town is a systemic tactic aimed at suppressing working class community activists in the Province. This particular strategy of suppression is not solely limited to the case of Comrade Loyiso; numerous related incidents in this regard are echoed across the province. This includes struggles in Overberg, West Coast and various other working class communities in the Cape Metro. The Partys concern was also raised at the Provincial Council in relation to ANC comrades abstaining in this decision during the council sitting. There is no justification whatsoever in relation to this decision to abstain; a stance of neutrality is nothing but a silent vote of cooperation with the DA.
Defending the Progressive Trade Union Movement
Linked with the Party campaign of building industrial and work place units will be the fulfilment of one of our key aims contained in our medium term vision. The Party also aims to strengthen our relations with COSATU and its affiliates by developing Party units on shop floors and worksites, developing joint programmes and campaigns and cooperating in political education seminars throughout the year. The Partys analysis of syndicalist drifts within the organised labour movement will indeed be neutralised with the rollout of this key campaign, linked with perennial political and ideological seminars. The Provincial Council also resolved to re-launch Red Forums to be taken to all levels in meeting the broader MDM and beyond.
Political Economy of the Western Cape
Developments in the Western Cape are in the main dominated by a pseudo-liberal onslaught that primarily focuses on the advancement of brash and relentless individual accumulation, whilst blatantly neglecting working class communities. To take it further, the City and Provincial administrations, led by neo-liberal elitists, have been transparent in their implementation of regressive policies and actions.
Communities across racial lines in rural, coastal and metropolitan areas of the province have all borne witness and suffered under the advent of this neo-liberal and anti-majoritarian administration. With a preordained air of superiority and arrogance, the City and Provincial administrations constantly dismiss the mass-democratic-based pleas of working class communities across the province.
Lastly the Provincial Council measured the need for the Party to monitor and critique the reports emanating from the Khayelitsha Commission.
Final Resolve
The Party wishes to reiterate its steadfast role as a vanguard in leading the working class out of the bonds of neo-liberal enslavement by reclaiming political power in the Western Cape. The SACP in the province therefore maintains its undying commitment in leading the working class in all sites of struggle and in all working class communities across the province.
Issued By SACP Western Cape
Contact:
Khaya Magaxa Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 083 721 0221
Masonwabe Sokoyi
SACP WC Spokesperson
Cell :0741772068/ 0765243242
Office :021 762 9717
Fax :086 558 2481
Email : sacpwc.media@gmail.com
