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The Life of a
deputy: Let’s
talk about these things...
The Communist and the struggle of opposites Reproduced with the permission of the author, Cde Sibusiso Mchunu, The JHB Central branch for the past meetings (BGMs) has been able to bring efficiency to the operational level of the branch, like simple things of making sure that both executive (BEC) meetings and Branch General Meetings (BGMs) do take place, as scheduled and on time. At most the BEC meetings do not take more than 1H30 and BGM not more than 2H30 (although they are scheduled for two hours), like wise the Communist University (CU) is scheduled for two hours only, but when the CU is once a week it will be 1H30. This we do so that everybody may plan his or her time correctly knowing when the meeting starts and finish. Our BGM assemble as scheduled for every second Sunday of every Month, this we do with an understanding that human beings are habitual beings, even if a member do forget the date but this, make it easy to remember as we also remind members through the emails (of 197), SMS and calling. Only special meetings are scheduled outside normal hours, like the coming one on November 8, 2009 at The Communist University (CU) our Political Subcommittee has after along absence already had two-contact session classes as the complementary of our online version of the CU. This we do to assist the body politic and in appreciation of the digital age, we live in. The branch has its own Google group, email list (for branch notices with 197 active-emails) and the CU has its own list independent from each other, which has daily email and now the CU has a link in the SACP website (this is the milestone). This means apart from the number of subscribed emails, anybody who goes into SACP website may now search through the CU documents. The CU evolution has now team up with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) SACP (work-based branch) to host the live sessions of the CU. This has midwifed the UJ SACP, once a week CU of which negotiations are at an advance stage that SACP, Johannesburg Central Branch next year, join the CU of the UJ of once a week CU classes. This will be a continuation of good neighbouring branches working together for the common good of all SACP members for the two branches. The past sessions of CU, the attendance was good and hopeful next year this will give even the student body politics of The focus on the past sessions was concentrating on the SACP Special Congress discussion document of which as the subcommittee gave us enough time to unpack the document, as we are still waiting for the last two documents. The CU has always moved from the premise that, for us to get the working class to be active, we must be able to Educate, Mobilise and Organize. As the Party would be going to the Congress amongst the things, it should be able to unpack, is to have common understanding usage of words like Hegemony, Accumulation and Elements of Socialism, because these are very big words and they can easily be mishandled. As we are still waiting for the last two documents from the Party for the Special Congress, their none availability means that the writers of these documents are not really conscious of the time left before the special Congress and for the Branches (basic Units) to be able to do justice to these documents. This back the cry that as we seek to strengthen the Party’s organizational ability, we need to look at viability of outside Party document writers against an in house document writers. The in house will necessitate that the Part must have its own research Unit, whereby the staff of the research Unit will be responsible and accountable to the Party material documents and archive. This unit will see to it that documents dispensed by the Party do reach branches on time, currently I think, the present approach is not working. As the JHB, we are still officially waiting for the first document to be availed to the members, had it not for the branch not made alternative means, we would still be waiting. Imagining that JHB Central branch is just a stone throw from the (District) Provincial and National office, yet we struggle. How about a branch that is far afield without internet access and private printing equipment? Yet, documents have been printed (paid for) and ready but sitting somewhere in somebody’s office. As our District is launching new branches, these new branches are also becoming extinct. Are we launching them for the sake of numbers and/or competing with our fraternal organizations or Mass based organization as if we are in competition? We create these peoples’ organizations. We swell the ranks or lead these mass based organization, while on the other side we are competing with them, for the space. It is as if we are competing with ourselves, as we are a vanguard of these organizations. These hastily assembled, branches die as quickly as were launched and this makes good members of the SACP to be floating members. This liquidates quality of branches. Like the district must ensure that all new branches are coached and monitored to ensure they hold their BGMS and hold party line up until they operate smoothly, otherwise launching of new branches without such support is a futile exercise. What is our policy (of launching) saying about the probational period for new members to be eligible to serve in the BEC as per the PE resolution? Maybe we should revert to have Party members by invitation. With all the branch has achieved, now the branch needs to make sure that all subcommittees function properly. The branch has slowly started in a very good footing with few projects and presentations being a success, but our members need to own up to these initiatives more, as you cannot have a good Communist who is not participating in a subcommittee. As the struggle of opposite intensify, we cannot have inactive Communist, as Organizing, Mobilizing and Educating should come first and be central to our Communist work. The call to have Communist cadres to the front can only be achieved if we get subcommittees’ active, this will free the BEC and BGM as these subcommittees will do most of the groundwork including research. A good branch is the one that has active subcommittees. Active members make subcommittee active in return; we get to have an active branch, then an active (class-conscious) community. Therefore, every member is central to our collective activism. The importance of members energetically attending branch activities include our deployed comrades (in/out of the Party)must also be addressed with urgency looking at the absence of our deployees to branch activities. I know these comrades always argue without fail that they are busy (so is everybody), but these comrades are deployed because of their good standing at the basic unit (branch level). Our policy on deployment should be able to speak to this matter clearly, as we might end up being led by comrades who cannot in their busy schedule find time to attend a once a month branch meeting. This tendency has a direct effect on the branch quorum (be it BGM or AGM). Moreover, beside that; what kind of a Communist leader that does not attend branch meeting. This is even worst for those deployed at our legislature (Local, Provincial and National) as these comrades enjoy constituency allowance yet; these comrades are nowhere to be seen near the branch let alone an apology. Being deployed is one thing but being absent at the branch activities is quite another. We cannot have perpetual apologies, out 10 months in a year, JHB central is not meeting only during December and January due to holidays, and these comrades cannot find time in any of the second Sunday (of each of the 10 months) between February and November. Some of these comrades have secretaries (for diaries) and own best phones and Computers with a latest technology, which means all this, can act as a reminder and scheduling. We are not yet in the classless society, therefore we need to advance the struggle of,
We can only get Socialism in our lifetime only if we lead and be active in subcommittees, as these popular organs of power will empower branch members to be better leaders either for the branch (in future) and or for the community. Let’s talk about these things... Asikhulume Socialism is the Best _____________ Cde Sibusiso is a BEC Member of SACP JHB Central writing in his own capacity --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- |
