There have been several histories of the South African Communist Party published on Anniversaries of its founding as the CPSA in 1921. 'Fifty Fighting Years' was published in 1971. In 1981, "South African Communists Speak" was published. "The Red Flag in South Africa" was published in 1991. This one is from the Fortieth Anniversary, 1961. It was both produced and distributed inside the country. _____
The Story of the Communist Party [Underground leaflet distributed in South Africa in July, 1961] It is Forty years since the Communist Party of South Africa was formed, on July 30, 1921. Never was any Organisation so much hated by the bosses and the rulers of this country as the Communist Party. Never was any Organisation so much loved by the workers of the towns and poor people of the countryside, by the oppressed millions of Non-Whites. The reason was not far to seek. In every struggle of the people - against racial discrimination, poverty and oppression - the Communist Party fought in the front ranks. The African people will never forget the Communist Party. They remember how, for many years, it led the fight against Pass Laws. They recall the name ofthe great hero and martyr, Johannes Nkosi, who was brutally murdered by the Police in the mass demonstration against Passes at Durban on December 16, 1930. They remember that the Communist Party was the first to organise African Trade Unions to win higher wages, better jobs and better conditions for the working class, led by pioneer Trade Unionists like Gana Makabeni, Albert Nzula, Moses Kotane and J.B. Marks. Ceaselessly the Communist Party worked to arouse the people to unite, to build the African National Congress, to demand their rights for land, bread and freedom, for votes for all in a democratic South Africa based on equality of rights and opportunities for everyone. The Indian people of this country cannot forget how under the inspiration of men like Dr Dadoo and other Indian Communists, as well as Non-Communists, the whole struggle of the Indian people was raised to new heights; how they fought for a United Front with the African and Coloured people for EQUALITY and FREEDOM for ALL. The Coloured people know the role the Communists have played in fighting against Apartheid and bad conditions. They remember the part played by pioneers like Jimmy la Guma, John Gomas and Ray Alexander in organising the poorest-paid Coloured workers. The Communist Party was a Non-Racial Organisation - the first in this country to admit all men and women regardless of race or colour, on a basis of complete equality. The White workers who today stand aloof or even hostile towards the aspirations of the Non-White masses should remember that it was Communists like Bill Andrews, the father of the Labour movement, Ivon Jones, S.P. Bunting, and many others who pioneered and built up the Trade Unions and working class political movements which are responsible for the higher wages and better conditions which they enjoy today. SWORN ENEMY OF NATIONALISM The Communists stand for the direct opposite of everything the Nationalist Party stands for. Instead of Apartheid - Unity and friendship for all South Africans, Black and White. Instead of Oppression - Freedom and Equality - Freedom of Speech, Assembly, Press, Organisation and Movement; Equality of Rights and Opportunities. No wonder the Nationalists hate the Communists so much! Headed by men like 'Sjambok' Swart, the present State President, and Hitler lovers like Verwoerd, the Nationalist Party swore it would destroy Communism in South Africa. In 1950 they passed the 'Suppression of Communism Act', which declared the Communist Party unlawful. They 'listed' every member or supporter of the CPSA they knew. They forced hundreds of Communists to resign from the Congress movement and the Trade Unions; banned them from attending gatherings; forced people like Sam Kahn, Brian Bunting and Ray Alexander out of Parliament where they had been elected by the votes of the people, and Fred Carneson out of the Provincial Council. Communists were victimised out of their jobs, and like other patriots and free dom fighters they have been exiled from their homes to far away places or even out of the country. By methods like these, the Nats thought they could kill the spirit of Communism in South Africa. But they have failed hopelessly. The former Communist Party of South Africa was dissolved - but a new one - the South African Communist Party - has grown up in its place to carry on with the struggle and carry it on to victory. And all South Africa knows that - shoulder to shoulder with Non-Communist democrats and fighters for freedom - the Communists have continued to play a glorious part in every great movement of the masses against the hated Nationalist regime. In the Defiance Campaign and the Congress of the People, the movement against Passes, the Bus boycotts, the Treason Trial, the Maritzburg Conference and many another stirring chapter of South African History, the Communists have played a full and exemplary part. The Nationalist Party cannot destroy or suppress Communism. They can persecute Communists - but they cannot kill the deep roots of Communism in the love and respect of the people. They cannot break the firm ties of comradeship between Communists and Non-Communists in the freedom fight. You can kill people - but you cannot kill ideas, least of all, noble and true ideas like those of Communism. For these ideas have been evolved by the greatest thinkers humanity has produced, Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, Vladimir Lenin. They embody and carry forward the thinking of all the great humanists down the ages. They arise from a deep study of Philosophy, of History, of the world we live in and the working of the Capitalist System. History has proved Communism to be true and correct. In a short period of time, enormous strides forward to a better and freer life have been made under Communist leadership by formerly backward countries like Russia and China. Hitler's monstrous armies were crushed, primarily by the Soviet Union. And it is the socialist science of the Soviet Union which has led to the Conquest of Space by Man. Despite all the lies of the Capitalist Newspapers, these and many other facts prove to all that Communism holds the answers to the problems of humanity; the key to a better and brighter future for all who live on this earth; the key to peace, national freedom, democracy and socialism. WHERE THE COMMUNIST PARTY STANDS TODAY Where does the South African Communist Party stand today, on the great problems which face our country - in the serious position to which we have been brought under the crazy Verwoerd Government, with its sick ideas of Apartheid and White Supremacy? We stand where Communists have always stood on the great question of the ending of Capitalism and the exploitation of man by man. We believe that the best road for the future of our country is that of SOCIALISM. That is, a society where all the Industries, Farms, Mines and other means of production are made Public property, where living standards rise rapidly and progress is planned by a strong Workers' and Peasants' Government. Capitalism is doomed. The United States of America and other Imperialist Countries stagger from one terrible crisis of unemployment to another. The only future that Capitalism can offer is another terrible World War, fought with Atomic weapons that can wipe out millions of people and destroy Man's finest achievements. Already one third of the human race has turned its back on Capital ism - with its poverty, inequality, racialism, wars and exploitation - and are advancing victoriously to build Communism - the society of the future. On the immediate problem of South Africa we stand with all other patriots and democrats irrespective of their views about socialism. We stand for a United Front of National Liberation. We stand, together with the Congress Movement, for the Freedom Charter. We stand for the overthrow of the Nazi Nationalist Government and the summoning of a democratically elected sovereign National Convention to promulgate a new Constitution for a free South Africa. We stand for higher wages, for free Speech and the ending of the Nazi laws which have driven the Communist Party and the African National Congress underground. HOW TO FIGHT The African Revolution which is sweeping through our Continent has won one victory after another until independence has been won everywhere except in a few pockets of Imperialism such as the Portuguese Colonies and the vicious White Colonialism practised in this country and the Rhodesias. The people will win here too. But people do not get freedom served up on a plate. They have to fight for it. Sometimes they even have to fight with arms in their hands, as is now being done by the brave patriots of Algeria and Angola. The key is ORGANISATION. We shall not beat the brutal Verwoerd dictatorship unless we are united in our own ranks. Workers! join your Trade Unions. Peasants, Organise against the traitor chiefs who sell out to Bantu Authorities. Build up, everyone, your underground African National Congress and other organisations which fight for freedom. Support your South African Communist Party, the voice of oppressed and exploited South Africa: THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY -- -- 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] . 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