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South African Communist Party, Gauteng Province, Press statement, 8 June 2015 11th SACP Gauteng Provincial Congress Held in Oupa Phasha District (City Of Ekurhuleni), The Lakes Hotel, 22nd-24th May 2015 Theme: Consolidating Working Class Power in All Key Sites and Fronts Declaration We, the 500 delegates constituting the 11th SACP Gauteng Provincial Congress, deeply inspired by and drawing strength from the revolutionary legacy of our stalwarts and martyrs, amongst them, Mama Ruth Mompati. She was laid to rest on the day coinciding with Congress on Saturday 23rd May 2015. We appreciate the fact that the 11th Provincial Congress took place in the immediate period following the repatriation from Russia and reburial in our country of the mortal remains of Comrades Moses Kotane and JB Marks. These two leaders are both acknowledged as amongst the leading champions and founding fathers of the revolutionary ANC-led Alliance and principled adherents to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) underpinned by the advanced international principle of non-racialism. Congress appreciates the fact that it was convened during Workers Month and following successful May Day rallies hosted by our class ally, Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU). May Day rallies were the first following the factional but failed attempts by the NUMSA Imperialist funded faction to mobilise workers to break ranks with the ANC-led Alliance which remains workers' only historic revolutionary movement leading the realisation of the ideals of the Freedom Charter. The 13th National Congress Central Committee (CC) delegation was led by comrade Thulas Nxesi, the Deputy National Chairperson and Minister of Public Works who delivered the Key-note address. Comrade Solly Mapaila, the 2nd Deputy General Secretary presented the strategic internal discussion document of the SACP on Organisational Renewal as part of the process leading to the forthcoming Special National Congress to be held in our province in July this year. The African National Congress (ANC) Deputy Provincial Chairperson and Premier of the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) Comrade David Makhura addressed Congress. The Provincial Secretary of COSATU, Comrade Dumisani Dakile and comrade Vheti Phehla delivered messages of support on behalf of both COSATU and SANCO respectively. Comrade Lucky Montana, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PRASA, addressed Congress focusing on integrated Public Transport System in our country and province. Consistent with our principle of proletarian internationalism and solidarity, Congress was addressed by Ambassadors of Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea. Messages of support were also received from solidarity organisations including the Swaziland Solidarity Network and Western Sahara Solidarity Forum. Congress of South African Students (COSAS) also attended Congress, raising to the highest level the banner of Each One Teach One. Flowing from an intense and robust analysis of the international and local class balance of forces, Congress adopted a number of resolutions, as follows: On the International situation The 11th Congress noted that the world capitalist crisis that imploded in 2007 in the housing bond market and devastated the entire world financial sector still remains the most decisive economic factor that defines the objective world class balance of forces. Congress further noted that a new round of crisis based on potential default on excessive household and sovereign debts is in the formative stages of yet another implosion. We also noted that the world working class movement in most countries is yet to consolidate its unity behind revolutionary Marxist-Leninist Vanguard parties that will mount consistent and coherent offensive against the world capitalist system that is reeling from one crisis to another. Across the globe, the working class responded in varying degrees to the crisis, including through direct resistance and in most cases by way of electoral protests against traditional ruling blocs. These developments points to the enduring absence of a well-coordinated and consistent response to the crisis. In certain instances, parties promoting austerity and right-wing polices were removed from power, whilst in other cases left parties, especially those that were voted on anti-austerity posture have been severely weakened if not yet removed from power. In many instances, financial institutions and banks connived with multi-lateral banking institutions taking advantage of the desperate needs of this left governing parties to access finance. These financial institutions are using all sorts of manoeuvres to humiliate, weaken and undermine left parties that were voted on popular anti-austerity platforms. Congress noted the renewal of the USA-led Imperialist aggression against the peace-loving people of a democratic Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under the leadership of President Nicolas Maduro. President Maduro has been consistent on sustaining the revolutionary traditions of the Bolivarian movement. On the other hand, since the death of President Hugo Chavez, the Bolivarian revolution had to contend against persistent aggression by the United States government. At stake is the USA's desperate need to gain control of and direct access of Venezuela's oil reserves. The provincial congress strongly condemned this reactionary fascist attitude and pledged unflinching solidarity with the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The newly elected Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) was mandated to formally launch the "Hands-Off Venezuela Campaign" as a solidarity programme with Venezuela. In this regard a protest march to the USA Embassy will be staged during the forthcoming African Union Summit. The march will be held on Friday, the 12th June 2015 at the USA Consulate in Sandton, Johannesburg and will be followed by a Solidarity Rally on Sunday 14thJune 2015 at the Braamfontein Reception Hall, City of Johannesburg. The 11th congress noted current developments in Cuba and deeply appreciated the release of the Cuban Five and the announced visit to our country in late June 2015. As such congress pledged to intensify the struggle for the lifting of the United States' unjust financial, commercial and economic, blockade against Cuba. On the African continent, it was resolved to work through the Central Committee and the Alliance to extend our solidarity to struggles of the African working class in other countries. This is including but not limited to the need to dismantle the Royal oppression in Swaziland; to put an end to the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco; to assist a swift shift by Nigeria from the orbit of imperialist pressures in order to pursue a sovereign, peaceful developmental path; to reign in attempts to restore old ethnic conflicts in Burkina Faso; to struggle for peaceful transition in Somalia and bring about an end to sectarian conflicts in the Sudan Republic and in South Sudan. National Democratic Revolution (NDR) and ANC-Led Alliance The 11th provincial congress reaffirmed the relevance of the strategic perspectives of the SACP as contained in the South African Road to Socialism (SARS). We appreciate the fact that the entire Alliance remains firmly united behind the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) as the historic unifying perspective. It further reaffirmed the perspective of a more radical second phase of the NDR. The 11th congress agreed that the most dominant contradictions arising from the sustained and persisting legacy of Colonialism of a Special Type (CST) remain that of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Whilst the unity of the ANC-led Alliance in the Gauteng Province was highly commendable, congress noted the principal challenge to strengthen the unity of COSATU, especially in the light of imperialist sponsored manoeuvres to divide workers who are the primary motive force of the NDR. Tshwane as the weakest link in 2016 Local Government Elections Tshwane was identified as the weakest link that is fast becoming the seed-bed of a Thermidorian reaction. This is based on the deteriorating state of the Alliance in Tshwane, which seems to be closely following the Western Cape "template", that is, the set of complex conditions that existed prior to the control of that province by counter-revolution led by the DA. In this regard, Congress converged on the view that Tshwane is pregnant with a range of possibilities. It may give birth to a myriad of complex contradictions and with swift and prompt intervention it may consolidate and advance the NDR, whilst lack of such decisive intervention may lead to a degeneration and decline into counter-revolution. It was noted that such an outcome depends on action to be taken and the time and space of such absolutely necessary action. Congress resolved to elevate and treat Tshwane as the primary area of focus, thus constituting a strategic and principal task leading to the 2016 local government elections and to ensure that the capital city does not become a site of a Thermidorian reaction. It was in this particular context, that Congress mandated the newly elected PEC to urgently meet with the DEC and SACP branches in Tshwane. The PEC will convey a revolutionary position from congress that seeks to refocus our structures on the historical task of working class mobilisation. This will seek to ensure that the SACP structures are not focussed on this or that perceived or real faction in the ANC. Such an intervention, should seek to ensure that the SACP in Tshwane continues to appreciate the historic fact that the ANC remain the most trusted revolutionary movement of the people as a whole, biased to the working class and is the democratic force of the left. Congress further resolved that the newly elected PEC must urgently prepare for the launch of its 2016 Local Government Elections Campaign in Tshwane, that the launch be held as a matter of urgency and for this to be done in consultation with the Alliance as a whole. In this regard, the SACP will reactivate its Red Brigade to drive and lead the election campaign with Tshwane as the primary site of electoral class struggle leading to the 2016 Local Government Elections. Working Class Communities Congress noted the sporadic outbreaks of Xenophobia in parts of our province. Xenophobia arises as a contradiction of the National question out of conditions of capitalist inequalities, poverty and class exploitation. Its manifestation bears resemblance to the historic divisions and discriminations based on race, tribe, gender and class. In this regard, Congress resolved that the prejudice, stereotypes, fear and hatred of foreign nationals cannot be consistently and systematically resolved as isolated phenomena outside the resolution of the national and class contradictions in our country. Congress also noted that the outbreak of Xenophobia takes place in the midst of many backward and lumpen practices in various working class communities, including the culture of violence against the most vulnerable groups such as women and children, gays and lesbians, with increase use of drugs, especially Nyaope and the vigilante destruction of public property such as the burning of schools, libraries and clinics. It was noted that this deep-rooted culture of backwardness and violence, historically engineered and introduced by the brutal Apartheid state has now engulfed many of our working class communities. In this context, Congress resolved to adopt a Campaign for People's Culture based on people's education, political education to push back the frontiers of backward culture. Congress clearly understood that if these practices are not urgently addressed, especially amongst the youth, they can serve as fertile ground and entry point for forces of low intensity counter-revolution, especially the neo-fascist EFF. Congress reaffirmed its commitment to fight patriarchy and the continued inequality between men and women and the contradictions of the Triple oppression of women. The State and the Economy The 11th provincial Congress noted that in the last five years that preceded the 2014 national and provincial elections, our province faced a problem of two centres of power. We theorised this as a wrong tendency to elevate state organs above the ANC-led Alliance which is the only centre of power. Congress therefore resolved to ensure that the competitive tendency between the state and the Alliance, which has a weakening and often paralysing effect on both the state and the Alliance and creates massive confusion within the working class, will not be allowed to rear its ugly head again. Congress noted that this paralysis between the state and ANC-led Alliance creates massive confusion within the ranks of the working class in the province. It also leads to a high rate of neglect of working class communities, prompting a wave of so-called service delivery protests. In this regard, the PEC welcomed the new strategic vision of the 5th Provincial Government of Transformation, Modernisation, Re-industrialisation underpinned by the 5 Development Corridors and the Township Economy. Congress noted that this new perspective found concrete and popular expression in many working class communities and resonates very well with the overwhelming majority of the people in our province. In this regard, Congress cautioned that this dynamic new perspective, especially the Township economy should be driven by the state and must remain focussed on the historic and main motive force of the NDR, in particular the promotion of Cooperatives as instruments for the real empowerment of the working class. Congress cautioned against this new perspective being hijacked by monopoly capital. The concept of building Gauteng as an integrated City Region was adopted by Congress. This seeks to transform and reconfigure the Apartheid spacial legacy and to build post-Apartheid cities with a strategic impact across municipal and provincial boundaries. The revolutionary posture of the current provincial administration was welcomed, having thus far successfully repositioned itself as an active developmental state that is firmly anchored within the working class and popular forces. Congress resolved that the challenge moving forward is how to sustain this revolutionary posture and to build confidence within the working class and the people in general. E-Tolls and Public Transport Campaign The 11th Congress applauded the intervention of the Provincial Government on E-Tolls following the establishment of the Advisory Panel of experts that reviewed the Socio-economic impact of E-Tolls. It welcomed the final report on E-Tolls as presented by the Deputy President Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa. The newly elected PEC was mandated to work in consultation with the Alliance to urgently convene a Public Transport Summit with a view to establish a Public Transport Coalition modelled on the Financial Sector Campaign Coalition. Congress reaffirmed its historic view that the strategic way-forward to address concerns on E-tolls remains that of an integrated, safe, reliable and affordable public transport system that will meet the transport needs of the working class and poor as the overwhelming majority of the people in our province. Congress further dismissed desperate, irresponsible and ill-informed attempts by the "Gantries Brigade" as led by OUTA and the DA in creating a false and populist impression that the problems relating to public transport in our province depends on the destruction of gantries. It was resolved that the task moving forward is to take the report on the entire intervention process and its final outcomes to the working class and people of the province. Workplace Congress noted the ongoing and persistent restructuring of the workplace especially in the wake of the capitalist world economic crisis and its real effect on workers through the capitalist onslaught of labour brokering, casualisation and retrenchments. Congress acknowledged that the brutal terror unleashed against workers through capitalist super exploitation has a devastating impact on their living conditions. Congresses further noted that the difficulties facing workers provides a conducive ground for populists and demagogues presenting themselves as saviours and messiahs, to take advantage of workers and further mislead them into oblivion. In this regard, Congress noted that either way, workers suffer as victims of the bourgeoisie on the one hand, and still suffer manipulation by populists and demagogues on the other hand. Congress noted the offensive launched by forces of low intensity counter-revolution in the mining, agricultural and manufacturing sectors targeting COSATU affiliates. This includes attacks and physical threats to lives of COSATU leaders and ordinary members. Congress noted that at the heart of these attacks are attempts to derail the NDR, supported and sponsored by Imperialism and monopoly capital. Any to attempt to characterise this counter-revolutionary offensive as minor theoretical and ideological deviations that can be resolved through appeals and appeasing clearly determined agents of counter-revolution is completely short-sighted and misleading. Congress resolved to work closely with COSATU to re-launch the Qina Msebenzi/Tia Mosomi Political Education Programme to engage workers and to ensure that campaigns of COSATU such as those against Labour brokers are intensified. Congress resolved to intensify its work to achieve the unity of workers in the province under the leadership of COSATU. Financial Sector Campaign Congress noted that housing repossessions and evictions from bond houses has increased in many working class residential areas. This is mainly due to increased defaults in bond payment from various households, especially the African and Black indebted working class professionals. The housing repossessions take place in a climate and environment lacking clear and transparent Act of parliament, and with a high rate of manipulation of the process. This also includes alleged acts of corruption and collusion involving various players and institutions, leaving the affected people without any clear recourse in the process. At the heart of these acts of housing repossessions and evictions of occupants, is the determination and setting of prices for auction and resale purposes. This makes price determination easy to manipulate as the exclusive of the banking monopoly capital, without any oversight by competition authorities. Congress further noted that eviction processes are also manipulated through corrupt practices using private security companies, and manipulation of law enforcement processes to bring charges of trespassing against occupants. Congress resolved to re-launch the Financial Sector Campaign in our province, to mobilise the working class to fight housing repossessions as they render people homeless. As part of this campaign, the SACP will call for new policy towards tight regulation and control of the housing bond and repossession market in defence of the working class and poor. Congress through consensus democratically elected the new PEC as follows: 1. Provincial Secretary: Jacob Mamabolo 2. Provincial Chairperson: Joe Mpisi 3. Provincial Treasurer: Joe Morallana 4. 1st Deputy Provincial Secretary: Mpapa Kanyane 5. 2nd Deputy Provincial Secretary Mandla Radebe 6. Deputy Provincial Chairperson: Rosemary Thobejane-Ndoqo PEC MEMBERS 1. Hilda Monkwe 2. Khetiwe Ntombela 3. Hope Papo 4. Molly Dhlamini 5. Duma Nkosi 6. Mosidi Maboye 7. Bheki Ngobese 8. Khosi Mabaso 9. Lulama Nare 10. Thulani Malatsi 11. Victor Chiloane 12. Nkosinathi Ndwandwe 13. Phutas Tseki 14. Matsemela Matsemela 15. Moshoeshoe Sekete Issued by the SACP Gauteng province Contact: Jacob Mamabolo - SACP Gauteng Provincial Secretary Mobile: 082 884 1868 Lucian Segami - SACP Gauteng Provincial Spokesperson Mobile: +2779 5220 098 Office: +2711 339 3621 <tel:%2B2711%20339%203621> /2 Website: www.sacp.org.za <http://www.sacp.org.za/> Twitter: GPSACP Facebook Page: SACP Gauteng Province -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. 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