I agree with you DGS 110% for sure it clarifies a lot of comrades whom are behind the removing of the GS of the Party.It also clarifies all those that are deliberately confused. I hope everybody will start working towards the building of the working class struggle in achieving a Socialist South Africa Amandla!!!
________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Karl Cloete Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:59 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] Re: Blade 'safe from drunk dreamers', Buti Manamela, Times Fellow revolutionaries I am not certain why the starting point to the debate is the rigid and dogmatic articulation of the constitution as it relates to the fulltime position of the SACP General Secretary as if politically the PArty did not formulate a position which compels us to occupy all key centres of power to build and advance working class hegemony. In this context we should appreciate that the resolution to occupy all key centres of power would invariably translate into some of our finest cadres assumming key and strategic positions in governance and the state to give concrete expression to the South African Road To Socialism. If all of us are agreed, as it appear we do, that Cde Blade continues to represent the aspirations of communists and the proletariat as SACP GS, then why do we not amend the constitution so that there is more flexibility in an ever changing environment? Unlike the Bible, a constitution is premised on the mortal ideas of human beings and is subject to change as material conditions change. A closer reading of history tells us that General Secretary's of Communist Parties are the person who becomes President of a country where the Communist PArty assumes state power. Why do we South African Communists want to do it differently? The debate should really be about how do we strengthen the office of the General Secretary by employing a full time head and dedicated staff in the General Secretary's office so that all the responsibilities of the GS can be attended to on a day by day basis. (In fact the SACP CC has taken steps to appoint a Head in the General Secretary's Office) In this virtual and modern day of many different forms of technology, being in office is certainly not the Alpha and Omega. Let us amend the SACP constitution and get on with the task of building working class hegemony on the terrain of the National Democratic Revolition for a Socialist South Africa. Emotive and trivial arguements is less likely to cement the much needed unity we require to advance the revolution unless we have become purist of a special type. Socialism is the Future Build it Now With warm revolutionary regards Karl Cloete On 11/10/09, Dominic Tweedie <[email protected]> wrote: Dear Comrades, all, This is a tremendous debate we are having. I have personally said enough about the particulars. I would just like to add, in my capacity of your virtual VC, that this question of the GS poses no different conflict of interest from what any comrade must deal with as a vanguard communist necessarily working in the reformist mass movements of our country. Our SACP Constitution covers it very well (and better than any other communist party's constitution) in Rule 6.4 as follows: 6.4 Members active in fraternal organisations or in any sector of the mass movement have a duty to set an example of loyalty, hard work and zeal in the performance of their duties and shall be bound by the discipline and decisions of such organisations and movement. They shall not create or participate in SACP caucuses within such organisations and movements designed to influence either elections or policies. The advocacy of SACP policy on any question relating to the internal affairs of any such organisations or movements shall be by open public statements or at joint meetings between representatives of the SACP and such organisations or movements. There is no easy way, and certainly there is no bureaucratic or formulaic way, to deal with the contradictions of being a revolutionary within bourgeois civil society, comrades. One thing that all this points to is the necessity of developing more cadres. Good cadres will always be in demand and that's why they have to be replaced all the time. Therefore everything depends upon the production of cadres. I wish I was hearing of more study circles around the country. The eight Generic Courses of the CU are ready and waiting for you at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum. Best wishes, Domza, VC. Mduduzi Herman Vilakazi wrote: Et al, Cde Domza, I understand why you debate this issue in this fashion. You have the same suspicions I have about people who want to hijack the platform to strengthen their case against the GS. I am also aware that there are opportunists who want nothing but to annihilate the spirit of unity within the party. I am equally aware that there are those who are not comfortable with a communists receiving two salaries and believe that they have a share in personal wealth of individuals. I am aware that people attack leadership to so as to insult the organisation they lead. I am aware that at all times discussions should be informed not by forces of the economy but by operational material conditions. I am made to understand that there are some political thugs who are on standby to weaken progressive political organisations. All these is but a manifestation of the cruelty of capitalism. The angle of my debate is that we should not ignore documents that we have developed to assist in the running of the organisation. I have said it before and say it now without any favor that my support for the non-change of leadership will not blind me. I am sincerely raising an issue of constitutional implications which is but part of my conviction that when things are done in a democratic organisation like SACP, the "rule book" should guide us. The "fulltime" is not in any position of responsibility but only in that of the GS. I understand that the special congress is not for elections and am comfortable with comrade Blade at the helm. However, we have developed the constitution to be the supreme law of the organisation. Even the sitting of the special congress is a constitutional matter - issues of delegates, forming of qourum, receiving of reports etc. are all in the constitution. Therefore, we are slaves of our suppreme rule book - it is not by choice on when to apply it. So in whatever decision of the party, the constitution should guide us. I hope I was never ambiguous in my construction of the sentences. Will it be difficult Cde Domza to say, yes the GS is doing a good job, both in government and in the party, why can't we amend the constitution to suit this situation? Is it difficult to accept that the constitution as it stands does not accommodate this situation? Do we as communists want a situation where debates are stiffled by the likes of MDU, DOMZA, CLARENCE etc? Surely, once we cease to debate issues, we would be left with no choice but to close this forum. As I debate this matter, I am not afraid to state that the GS should remain but this should be done in line with the suppreme law of the SACP. I do not have a blind support on this matter and we all are aware that we should do it in this way unless we become anarchist-marxists. Amandla!! On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Lebese OE <[email protected]> wrote: Cdes, Let us try to remind cde Mdu that; 1. The GS is not an employee of some company that has its office hours from 8 - 4. For your benefit the extract says: The General Secretary shall be the leading National Office Bearer of the SACP and a full-time official under conditions of service determined by the CC. The General Secretary shall be an ex officio member of all party structures (Now this does not say 8 - 4 to me and am sure to you too). 2. From time to time we will need to make decisions based on conditions at any given time. We need not read our Constitution as if we are lawyers and it is some kind of Legislation. 3. The constitution is not meant to block and delay us in achieving our strategic objectives. 4. We are a party that has a huge responsibility of pushing the agenda of the working class and doing 'everything in achieving' socialism in our lifetime. 5. This is the same leadership that played an important part in literally forcing the wheels on the movement back in the right track. 6. Changing leadership of the Movement was just but one of the many things that we needed to do and there is still a lot to be done so nobody is going to disturb our momentum. Our National leadership of YCL was spot on when it said through our National Secretary that the GS is going nowhere. We will defend and support our leadership and will not be apologetic for doing so. Oagile From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mduduzi H Vilakazi Sent: 09 November 2009 12:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] Blade 'safe from drunk dreamers', Buti Manamela, Times Cdes, I do not know Cde Malgas what you mean but Cde Adriano raised a debate on the constitutionality part. If the extracts he made are from an original copy of the constitution of the SACP then the debate should be whether the constitution is changed or the incumbent is changed. The extract read as follows: 11. DUTIES OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY The General Secretary shall be the leading National Office Bearer of the SACP and a full-time official under conditions of service determined by the CC. The General Secretary shall be an ex officio member of all party structures and shall: 11.1 Keep (or cause to be kept) the minutes of all CC and PB meetings and such other books, records and archives as may be required. 11.2 Attend to the correspondence of the CC and PB. 11.3 Maintain regular personal and written contact with all the provinces and keep the membership informed of the work of the CC and PB. 11.4 Ensure that members of the CC are kept informed of the work of the PB in between meetings of the CC. 11.5 Draw up (or cause to be drawn up) all reports and documents as may be decided upon by the CC or PB. 11.6 The Deputy General Secretary shall, as directed by the CC, deputise for the General Secretary in respect of all the functions set out above. The importance of this constitution will be meaningless if the status qou remains because the office bearer will be part-time while the constitution warrants him to be full time. I do not think we should debate the issue with the view of seating/ un-seating a comrade. We all love Cde Blade. He took this office knowing that he should be full-time. General Secretary is an important office. Surely, SACP has many tried and tested comrades, if the constitution remains unchanged, then someone should (in line with the constitution) replace Cde Blade. So, my take is that the constitution should be amended or a new GS be elected at conference (if no constitutional amendment is envisaged). It is not about whether one is good in multi-tasking or not. It is about the constitutional obligations of the organization we so dearly love. I pause! 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