SACP Limpopo 8th Provincial Congress Declaration

[SACP South African Communist Party]

South African Communist Party

9 March 2022

SACP Limpopo 8^th Provincial Congress Declaration

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Limpopo Province held its 8^th Provincial Congress on 6-8 March 2022 at Tivumbeni MPC in Tzaneen under the theme PUT PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT! SOCIALISM IS THE FUTURE – BUILT IT NOW.

The 268 delegates that attended represented the entire membership of the SACP in the province coming from branches, districts and the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA). The Congress discussed several issues affecting the Party and the people of Limpopo.

The Congress also elected the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) as follows:

Provincial Secretary: Comrade Chuene Malebana.

Provincial Chairperson: Comrade Goodman Mitileni.

Provincial Treasurer: Comrade Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya.

First Deputy Provincial Secretary: Comrade Skinjar Rudzani Ramugumo.

Second Deputy Provincial Secretary: Comrade Percy Ndlala.

Deputy Provincial Chairperson: Comrade Phophi Ramathuba.

Members of the PEC: Comrade Danger Matumane, Rudolph Phala, Jeannette Mashego, Davis Matji, Priscilla Moswane, Elliot Molala, Sello Molekwa, Angie Sebola, Thixedzwi Maphiswana, Merriam Ramadwa, Ndivhuwo Phathela, Lawrence Bale, Livhuwani Ligaraba, Mike Shingange, Gerald Twala, Pule Shayi, Betty Mathebula, Dipuo Thobejane, Mologadi Mashego, Machike Thobejane, Desmond Mahopo, Esther Mokwele, Mabuse Mpe, Charley Nkadimeng, and Bashin Magoma.

 

DECLARATION OF THE SACP 8^TH LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL CONGRESS

We, the 268 delegates of SACP Limpopo 8^th Provincial Congress met from 6-8 March 2022 at Tivumbeni Multipurpose Centre in Lawrence Phokanoka District under the theme “Put People before Profit: Socialism is the Future – Build it now!” We represent the hundreds of branches from the five districts and the YCLSA throughout Limpopo Province.

SACP Limpopo held a successful Congress amid a Covid-19 pandemic which has devastated the world’s economies including tourism industries, sport and education throughout the world. We pay homage to the almost 100 000 of our fellow citizens who perished due to the Pandemic. We are hopeful that its ultimate end will usher in a new era of development, progress, prosperity and peace to our world and our country. 

We have noted recent statistics released by Statistics South Africa which indicate massive unemployment figures. We are particularly disturbed by the statistics of youth unemployment which are shocking and calamitous. We call for aggressive and direct state intervention in all key sectors of the economy and for massive industrialisation and beneficiation of certain commodities as a way of growing the economy and boosting job creation. Congress directs the PEC to prioritise the convening of an economic summit which will help in developing meaningful working class and pro poor interventions in the economy of the province and country. The summit shall involve Alliance partners, communities and other relevant sectors of the society. WORK FOR ALL remains our battle cry.

We met at a time when our movement has just suffered humiliating defeats at the November 2021 Local Government Elections. It was also for the first time that we registered an average percentage below 50% since 1994. Most of the causes for this situation are the subjective weaknesses inside the movement itself as well as general discontent occasioned by rampant corruption and ineptitude within the state machinery.

Accordingly, we recommit ourselves to continue to fight the ‘new tendencies' that have accumulated in the movement: ill-discipline, self-enrichment, factionalism, dishonesty, corruption, patronage, and arrogance. Congress took firm cognisance of this regrettable but overarching context in agitating for a non-negotiable and principled involvement in the Renewal of the ANC as a “leader” of the Alliance and the society. The SACP is guided by this conviction in striving and pushing for a purposeful and reconfigured Alliance as a matter of extreme urgency.

We rededicate ourselves to continue fighting gender based violence in particular, and corruption and crime in general as well as hunger amongst our people.  Our fight against VBS looters and Corruption will continue in memory of the ordinary depositors who lost their savings and their lives. In this respect, we pay deserved honour and tribute to the memory of comrades Timson Musetsho and Ronald Mani. We similarly honour the memories of other comrades who got brutalised or assassinated for having raised their voices against corruption, amongst whom are Comrade Piet Pale and Comrade Leka Lekalakala in Mogalakwena as well as Comrade Thabang Maupa in Feta Kgomo – Tubatse. Their sacrifices were never in vain. Their struggles continue. Congress calls for swift action by all relevant authorities to ensure that all persons implicated in the VBS bank saga are brought to book without undue delay and that the curator completes their task as soon as possible.

We welcome the release of the SIU reports on corruption and maladministration in the province, particularly on the PPE scandal. We call on the NPA to prosecute all those implicated and for the provincial government to deal decisively with the perpetrators. Congress also calls for decisive action to be taken on issues of corruption and maladministration regarding human settlements projects in the province. This should also include the ‘Talana’ human settlement scandal in the Mopani/Lawrence Phokanoka District where prices were inflated for sub-standard and inhuman structures.

The 8^th Congress convened amid Russia’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine and the imperialist NATO’s aggression in respect of the complex issue of Ukraine. Whilst we call for an end to the war that is surely affecting everyone including the working class, including innocent women and children, we equally understand the rationale behind Russia’s decision to defend itself against US led expansionism.

We take this opportunity to enhance our commitment to international solidarity with the progressive people of the world suffering from dictatorship, neo-colonialism and imperialism.

We Congratulate Cuba, China, India and Russia for being pioneers in the development of Covid-19 vaccines and accordingly call for the speedy enhancement of our own local capacity for the ultimate benefit of our people in the country and in Africa as a whole. Whereas we eternally remain indebted to the people of Cuba for their solidarity and sacrifices to our cause, the inhuman blockade and sanctions meted out by the US imperialist regime continues to be of utmost concern.

We call on our membership and the society as a whole to join the already existing national initiatives to assist the people of Cuba with donations and whatever material contributions possible. Congress also condemns the systematic victimisation and general ill-treatment of the Cuban doctors in Limpopo by the Health Department and thus calls for immediate intervention by the Party leadership.

We also continue to pledge our solidarity with the people of Venezuela, Swaziland, Western Sahara, Palestine, South Sudan and East Timor. In the same vein, we demand the release of Comrade Amos Mbedzi as well as all other political prisoners languishing in Mswati’s jails. We demand the safe return of exiles and free political activity in Swaziland.

We call for immediate and decisive intervention on the part of the South African government, inclusive of targeted sanctions against King Mswati and his cronies. Congress directed the PEC to develop and co-ordinate other appropriate mass activities aimed at the release of Comrade Amos Mbedzi and the attainment of all other demands.

The Congress ended on 8 March 2022, a day internationally dedicated to working-class women. We rededicate ourselves to the struggle against all forms of patriarchy and for gender equality in our province, our country and the world. We recommit ourselves to continue to expose and crush all forms of unequal gender relations in our society.

ISSUED BY SACP LIMPOPO

Contact:

Cde Chuene Malebana

Provincial Secretary

8^th Congress PEC

Mobile: 0615065924

Email: malebana....@gmail.com