SACP+End+of+the+Year+Statement+and+New+Year+Message



=**SACP End of the Year Statement and New Year Message**=

We wish to take this opportunity to wish all South Africans, especially the workers and the poor of our country, a happy festive season and a happy new year. To the workers of our country, your break is indeed well deserved, as it is your labour and sweat that keeps the wheels of our economy turning.


 * Consolidation and deepening of our democracy**

The SACP notes with satisfaction the continued strides that our country is making in deepening our democracy. Despite the many challenges that still lie ahead on this front we appreciate the steady progress in the building and consolidation of our new institutions of democracy. The one most significant development this year has been the dissolution of the party of apartheid, the National Party. This event is significant in that it marks the end of a party that had brought so much pain and suffering to millions of South Africans over a period of more than four decades.

We also note the further weakening of other reactionary and anti-democratic forces in our country, including that ally of the NP’s apartheid regime, Inkatha Freedom Party. Evidence to this is the continued stabilisation of democratic institutions and peaceful democratic contest in the province of KwaZulu Natal, under the leadership of the African National Congress.

We also note as the SACP that organisations like the Democratic Alliance, whose reason for existence is the defence of white fears and minority interests, seem to be reaching their organisational and electoral ceiling. The steady consolidation of our democracy will inevitably exhaust political agendas similar to those of the DA. The next logical development for an organisation like the DA will be its inevitable decline.

However, one of the key challenges still facing our democracy is that of the continuing transformation of the state institutions inherited from apartheid, including the public service and the judiciary.

However, important as our new democratic institutions are, our democracy shall forever remain threatened by the capitalist system and its failure to address the socio-economic inequalities in our society. There is a limit to which our democracy can be consolidated if the economic question and its injustices are not effectively addressed.


 * The economic challenge as the fundamental challenge**

We note with satisfaction the continuing positive economic indicators in our country, which is a far cry from the situation during the last decade of apartheid rule. We also welcome government’s continued emphasis on infrastructural investment led by state-owned enterprises. The billions of rand set aside by, amongst others, Transnet and Eskom, for investment into infrastructure can only bode well for our economy. To us this marks a decisive break with some of the fundamental assumptions of the GEAR strategy.

As the SACP we are proud that during 2005 we have contributed significantly towards bringing about some of the economic measures aimed at creating a better life for all our people. Through the SACP-led financial sector campaign we have seen the passing of the Co-operatives Act and the National Credit Bill. The latter bill incorporates some of the key demands of the SACP, including the regulation of the faceless Credit Bureaux and the capping of interest on credit for the workers and the poor.

We also note with satisfaction the growth of Umzansi account holders to more than 2 million new accounts with a period of 14 months. Umzansi account is a direct product of the SACP-led struggles to make the banks serve the people, especially the workers and the poor.

As the SACP we also played a significant role towards the convening of the National Land Summit in July 2005, which was a key demand in our 2004 Red October Campaign. We also played an important role during the Summit, towards ensuring that its key resolution was the rejection of the ‘Willing Seller, Willing Buyer’ approach, which we had identified as the main obstacle in accelerating land and agrarian transformation. The key challenge for 2006 is the earnest implementation of the resolutions of the National Land Summit.

All these campaigns are concrete contributions towards building a better life for all. As the SACP we are however acutely aware that some of the advances outlined above would not have been possible without the participation of hundreds of thousands of our people in these SACP-led campaigns, and the support of millions of our people, especially the workers and the poor.

We therefore wish to thank all the millions of our people for the support they have given to the SACP during 2005. This also underlines the urgent challenge of 2006, to intensify the mobilisation of the workers and the poor to change the prevailing socio-economic conditions to their benefit.

However, the economic challenge remains the Achilles hill of our revolution. Despite the welcome shift in government’s economic policies, we are deeply concerned that the thrust of government’s economic policies still remain the restoration of capitalist profitability (‘Lowering the cost of doing business’) as a basis for our growth and development strategy. This strategy has proven to be far from adequate in addressing the growth and development challenges in our country, especially job creation and poverty eradication.

We also note with concern the growing casualisation of the working class in many key sectors of our economy. The capitalist propaganda that constantly claims that our labour market is rigid is nothing but a ploy to further drive down the conditions of employment of the working class, as part of a strategy to make even bigger profits. The ease with which bosses retrench and casualise workers in many sectors of our economy, is proof that our labour market has indeed already been made flexible to unacceptably high levels. It was because of this reality that the SACP strongly endorsed the decisions of the ANC NGC in this regard.

As the SACP we are of the view that we need to urgently move towards a more radical economic strategy, including serious consideration of legislation for prescribed assets, the resuscitation of the Community Reinvestment legislation to force banks to invest in poor communities, underpinned by a state-led strategy to realise the objectives set out in the Growth and Development Summit resolutions. We are firmly of the view that as government we have not fully exploited the favourable balance of forces (with the ANC commanding a 70% majority) to push for far more radical measures of economic transformation.

It is because of the preoccupation with restoration of capitalist profitability that even the model of BEE being pursued is very narrow and elitist. Such a BEE strategy can never be able to address the growth and development challenge in our country, let alone the national and gender questions. Instead, over time, it can only breed resentment amongst the overwhelming majority of our people.

We welcome the continuing focus by the ANC and government to promote gender equality, especially the advancement of women in all sectors and layers of our society. However, we are concerned that within the paradigm of restoration of capitalist profitability, the end result becomes the promotion and the consolidation of the interests of elite women, whilst the socio-economic conditions of the overwhelming majority of poor, working class, urban and rural women remain the same and in some instances even getting worse. The principle of 50/50 representation is important, but outside of a programme for the emancipation of working and poor women it ends up benefiting only an elite layer of women. We therefore need to use 2006, the 50th anniversary of the 9 August 1956 Women’s March, to intensify the struggle to place the interests of working class and poor women at the top of our developmental agenda.

The SACP will use 2006 to engage the Alliance and government on these and other matters.

Together with COSATU, which deservedly celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2005, we have agreed that we must intensify working class struggles to make the second decade of freedom, a decade of the workers and the poor. To this end we have committed ourselves to escalate the mobilisation of the working class to ensure that 2006 marks a further decisive step towards the realisation of this goal.


 * The situation regarding former Deputy President Jacob Zuma**

Clearly one of the biggest tests for the unity of our movement and our young democracy has been the situation relating to Cde Jacob Zuma. This matter has truly tested the resilience of our democracy and the unity of our movement. It is therefore important that as we reflect on 2005 and anticipate 2006 we fully appreciate the significance of this matter.

The treatment and charges against Cde Zuma have expressed both the resilience of our democracy as well as exposed some of the potential dangers facing our democracy. As the SACP we have committed ourselves to fight corruption in all its forms and manifestations, and that no one is above the law, and that the institutions of justice must be allowed to do their work without fear or favour.

But at the same time our people need to be vigilant that at not stage should we allow space for our organs of state to be abused for whatever purposes. Never in our country should we allow a situation where there is a pronouncement of prima facie evidence of guilt without immediately proceeding to charge in such a situation. Such behaviour can lay a very dangerous precedent for abuse of state power to settle factionalist battles and to pursue political agendas. Never again should we allow findings of state institutions and commissions like the Public Protector and the Hefer Commission not to be followed through as an important part of strengthening our democracy.

Of significance as well, developments in 2005 require that the media itself and our people as a whole seriously reflect on the role of media in South Africa’s fledgling democracy, especially around the matters relating to Cde Zuma. There are two sides to our rule of law; firstly, no one is above the law; and secondly that everyone should be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise through credible judicial processes. South African media seems to have done relatively better on the first principle, but on the second principle media coverage leaves much to be desired, and consequently South African media has a lot to answer for on this score. The disclosure of names of people involved in allegations of rape and the trial by media of Cde Zuma are matters that require serious investigation and reflection. This is an important task if we are to properly locate the role of media in our democracy.

In addition, much of the coverage of the matters relating to Cde Zuma has elevated anonymous sources above credible and accredited sources by the media. A related question that arises is the extent to which the media has, wittingly or unwittingly, acted in a factionalist manner on matters relating to internal debates or tensions within the ruling party, the ANC and the alliance. Media has a right to critically reflect on internal developments in all political parties, not least the ruling party. However in so doing, media must strive to report in a fair and impartial manner, and not be seen to be taking sides. Whether the media has passed this test on the matters relating to Cde Zuma remains seriously questionable.


 * The international challenges**

The SACP appreciates and applauds the work done by the South African government on the international arena, especially in the African continent. We urge all South Africans to support these endeavours as our country does not exist in isolation. However, the key challenge is this regard still remains that of the mobilisation of the peoples of the continent to be active participants in these processes. We hope the African Union will move with speed to set up the necessary forums for civil society participation in the processes of reconstruction and development of our continent.

As the SACP we are also heartened and inspired by the continuing electoral advances being made by the left in Latin America. To this end we have congratulated Cde Evo Morales, a former unionist, on his election as President of Bolivia. This marks a continuing trend of the rejection of capitalist neo-liberalism in many parts of Latin America. We pledge our solidarity with the peoples of Latin America, especially the left formations leading progressive forces in this region.


 * Some of the key challenges for 2006**

In the light of the above, there are indeed many challenges lying ahead, and the SACP appreciates the effort made by the ANC-led government to address these.


 * //The 2006 local government elections//**

The most immediate challenge in 2006 is that of the holding of a free and fair local government election. From our past experiences we are confident that the Independent Electoral Commission and all political parties will ensure that there is indeed a free and fair election.

On our part as the SACP we are calling on the overwhelming majority of our people to come out and vote for the African National Congress. We say this because we believe the ANC is the only political party that has demonstrated its resolve and willingness to create a better life for all.

We also welcome the steps recently adopted by government and parliament to do away with cross-border municipalities. This is important for purposes of streamlining service delivery at local level.

However, the handling of the process of re-demarcation of municipal and provincial boundaries by government leaves much to be desired. As the SACP we agree that sometimes broader national imperatives have to take precedence over local concerns, nevertheless the process of re-demarcation to do away with cross-border municipalities was started too late and handled clumsily. There was no effective consultation with many of the affected communities, and instead a technocratic ‘top-down’ approach prevailed in a number of these instances. Never again should we handle such situations in this manner if we are to ensure that ‘the people shall govern’.

The SACP is of the view that the energies that will be unleashed through the local government election campaign must be sustained to ensure that our people remain mobilised to ensure service delivery after those elections. The SACP will not be found wanting in taking part in this all-important effort.


 * //Building working class power in all of society//**

The SACP has adopted Programme of Action for 2006 under the slogan “Communist Cadres to the Front, For People Centred Local Economic Development”. We adopted this slogan through a careful evaluation of our experiences during 2005, and are convinced that the only way forward to address the fundamental challenges of our revolution is through local mass mobilisation. Unless our people stand up, mobilise, there shall be no better life for all. For the SACP this means, amongst other things, a 2006 during which the majority of our people struggle for the following:


 * Mobilising the working class to drive the resolutions of the Growth and Development Summit
 * To struggle for accelerated land and agrarian reform
 * To elect councillors committed to serving the interests of the workers and the poor
 * To earnestly implement the resolutions of the ANC’s July 2005 NGC
 * To struggle for a once-off amnesty for all those listed in the Credit Bureaux
 * To accelerate provision of basic services to all, especially the workers and the poor
 * To build a strong co-operative movement
 * To strengthen our Alliance and the unity of purpose in the entire democratic movement
 * To transform the current accumulation path to serve the interests of the overwhelming majority of our people, through a state-led industrial strategy

As the SACP we have during 2005 consistently pointed out capitalism is signally failing our democracy. It is therefore absolutely necessary that working class mobilisation is intensified in order to lay a basis for the only sensible alternative, the BUILDING OF A SOCIALIST SOCIETY. Our people, led by the working class, are the true custodians of our revolution.


 * //Taking forward the post-Truth and Reconciliation Commission processes//**

This year, 2005, our country celebrated 10 years of the founding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). As the SACP we joined in these celebrations, because we are of the view that the TRC was a very important process in the reconstruction and development of a democratic South Africa.

We however remain convinced that ultimately there can be no true national reconciliation whilst the current socio-economic inequalities persist. Much as we supported the TRC we are firmly of the view that there can be no true national reconciliation in a class society. It is therefore important that the fundamental basis for taking forward the post-TRC processes must be the addressing of the economic challenge in our country.

We eagerly await the government’s progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the TRC. We should all strive to bring to a close as speedily as possible many of the matters that arose out of this process.

The SACP, supported by the family of our late General Secretary, Cde Chris Hani, also wishes to use this message to endorse the call by the Young Communist League for an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Cde Hani in 1993. This is one of the most significant outstanding matters from the TRC processes which require urgent attention, in order to ensure that never again shall we have in our country political assassinations. The TRC denied amnesty to the killers of Cde Hani on the grounds that they did not tell the whole truth. At this juncture of our democracy it is time that the truth, and the whole truth, needs to be established on the assassination of our late General Secretary.

The SACP also notes that 2006 will be the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Umkhonto WeSizwe. We therefore use this occasion to salute all the former combatants of Umkhonto WeSizwe and all other combatants of armies of the former liberation movements for the role they played in bringing about a democratic South Africa. We are at the same time concerned about the socio-economic conditions of many of these cadres. We therefore call upon government to urgently attend to their plight, as part of addressing the needs of the majority of our people, and as a critical component of national reconciliation in our country.


 * We have indeed made a lot of progress, but a lot still remains to be done!**


 * Once more a Happy 2006… With and For Workers and the Poor!**


 * Issued by: Blade Nzimande, General Secretary**



For further inquiries please contact: Kaizer Mohau, SACP Media Liaison Officer, Tel: 011 339 3621, Mobile: 076 573 7764, Email: kaizer@sacp.org.za