18 February 2025. The South African Communist Party in Mpumalanga province held the 9 th Plenary Session of the 11 th Congress Augmented Provincial Executive Committee via Zoom Video Conferencing from 15 to 16 February 2025. The meeting was attended by Provincial Executive Committee members, District and Sub-district representatives, the Young Communist League of South Africa and Central Committee members. The Alliance partners, COSATU and the ANC, were also invited and honoured the meeting.
The meeting, the first Constitutional meeting since the SACP 5 th Special National Congress held in December 2024, was characterised by frank and robust engagements. It took place at a time when the world is experiencing an imperialist onslaught which is tightening its grip on the global balance of forces with the recent elections of the United State president, Donald Trump. These dynamics also present the Left Axis with opportunities to unite and face this imperialist onslaught head on.
The National Democratic Revolution
The South African Communist Party continues to be committed to the National Democratic Revolution and regards it as a minimum programme towards the socialist goal in the South African reality. It is through the logical conclusion of the National Democratic Revolution where the majority of South Africans can enjoy the real fruits of democracy and an achievement of a proper freedom.
However, there has been a serious neglect of the National Democratic Revolution over the past years, and the current state of affairs in our body politic does not give confidence for the full implementation of this programme. The perpetual increase in the rising cost of living, which includes un-ending increases in the price of fuel and electricity, makes life unbearable for the working class and poor.
Amid these challenges, the government continues to implement austerity measures by reducing government expenditure on services that might make a difference to the lives of the working class and poor. This rightward shift is an indication that the government serves the interests of the few elites rather than the primary motive force of the National Democratic Revolution, which is the working class and poor people.
It is also for this reason that the South African Communist Party rejects the inclusion of the racist and imperialist agenda driven by the DA in the “Government of National Unity.” The passing of the NHI Act, BELA Act, and Expropriation Act, marks important progress, but implementation must be carried out, and the National Treasury needs to release resources in that regard. We also reject the opposition to the signing of these bills by the proponents of neo-liberal agenda and apartheid apologists.
The SACP 5 th Special National Congress resolution for the Party to contest the state and popular power through the ballot is a fundamental solution to the challenges facing the working class and poor. It is only the unity of the left under the vanguard party that can serve this offensive.
Workplace
There is no other moment that is as crucial as this one for the Congress of South African Trade Unions to unite workers. Employees across all sectors are facing difficult times in their workplace; they all live in fear of casualisation or retrenchment. The steel and mining sector has been hard hit with contemplated layoffs.
Public sector employees have been on a stand-off with government over the government’s refusal to implement bargaining council decisions, on the one hand, and the imposition of austerity measures, on the other. Government’s refusal of fair salary increases means that public sector employees will be subjected to harsh realities of the rising cost of living. The SACP, together with COSATU and other trade unions, must campaign against these unfair working conditions, including the lack of safety and exploitation of workers.
The Economy
The economic growth patterns in South Africa do not give us confidence that the country will achieve the 2030 plans as espoused in the National Development Plan. Over the past few years, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has struggled to reach a growth rate of a mere 2 per cent. This will make it impossible to deal with the high rate of unemployment, poverty and inequality. On the other hand, we are regarded as the most unequal country in the world, an indication that we are following a wrong economic trajectory of neoliberalism.
There is no hope that things will be better under the current Government of National Unity; on the contrary, things are getting worse. Unemployment remains steadily high, workers are losing jobs and the cost of living is extremely high. What hope is there for the people of South Africa if the working class and poor under the current arrangement does not stand up?
In 1994, the unemployment rate was sitting at 14 per cent. We are currently at 32.1 per cent according to the narrow definition; in reality we are sitting at more than 40 per cent. In the last 30 years, the government has failed to transform the economy for the benefit of the majority. At the moment, 86 per cent of the economy is still in the hands of the few who constitute just under 8 per cent of the population, while the majority continue to scramble for the remaining 14 per cent of the economy to a point of killing one another.
Communities
The South African Communist Party conveys its message of condolences to the bereaved families of the 13 people who perished in the recent accident in Hoedspruit and the other four in Mbombela. Road safety should be a priority amongst motorists to protect the lives of others.
We also call for the arrest and speedy conviction for the culprits who torched PUCTO buses, leaving the many commuters stranded, without transport to work.
Communities are a nucleus of any revolution and the centre of governance, where service delivery must be seen to be taking place. However, our communities still lack basic services like water and proper roads. The SACP resolved to build strong branches in all voting districts to be able to respond more efficiently to the needs of our people. The Party will work with rudimentary organs of people’s power towards building the Left and Popular Front.
International balance of forces
The world entered the year 2025 with mixed emotions as to what it means for the election of the United State president, Donald Trump considering his pronouncement on foreign matters and how he is going to handle certain issues. Trump, however, cannot be trusted as the US has one policy and that is putting America first in all its decisions. The US will continue to play its bullish role in global affairs, to cement itself as a global leader.
Trump’s recent pronouncement on Gaza and ending war in Ukraine shows how demagoguery the US is in relation to how it handles foreign issues. The strengthening of BRICS+ remains more important now as more of its members have an anti-imperialist outlook. These countries need to speak in one voice especially on the de-dollarisation matter.
The Israeli genocide against Palestinians remains a problem for the global community. It is quite clear that apartheid Israel will continue with its arrogant posture to push for its own selfish interests regardless of who says what. The decision of the South African government to take that government of Israel to the International Court of Justice remains a revolutionary one.
Africa is one of the richest continents in the world with lots of minerals in it. However, greed and corruption have also led to other problems like coups and increase in the number of “rebels”, creating instability. In the past few months, Mozambique has been facing such challenges which misled people to believe that it was a protest against electoral outcomes and as a result many people lost their lives.
The situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a question that needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency. It is bad for South Africa as it is most likely to suffer from a number of illegal immigrants coming through the porous borders.
The struggle for the freedom of the people of Swaziland seems to have lost its momentum.
This may be due to disunity of the progressive forces in that country, but it remains our responsibility in the neighbouring countries and South Africa in particular to play a huge role in that struggle. Our government should also assist by cutting ties with the Swaziland government to hit Mswati’s government in the pocket.
ISSUED BY THE SACP IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
For further enquiries contact:
Lucky Mbuyane
SACP Provincial Secretary
082 351 5804
OR
Lestja Dikgale
SACP Spokesperson
076 869 4360
Issued by the South African Communist Party,
Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.
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