20 March 2008
The SACP would like to take this opportunity, as we mark Human Rights Day tomorrow, to wish all our people well as they take a break. We would also like to wish the Christian community a Happy Easter weekend, the Muslim community well as they celebrate birth of prophet Mohammed and our Jewish communtiy well as they celebrate the festival of Purim.
The celebration reminds us of our need to continue to deepen and defend our democracy to ascertain that never again shall our country and the world as large deteriorate to low levels of discrimination as witnessed in the past. We will continue to struggle to defend the dignity of humanity all over the world.
Our struggle will continues to be undermined by the exploitative capitalist system and its current neo-liberal agenda that is being unleashed all over the world against the working people, the vulnerable and poor. There can be no accord of human rights when many continue to want, live in abject poverty and squalor conditions whilst the few control the wealth of the world.
Here at home, the recent increases in basic food prices including the cost of bread demonstrates how the quality of human life cannot be left to the invincible hand of the market. We have through our Red October Campaign saw how our health system is in a deep crisis and thus the poorest of the poor do not receive quality heath care services.
The recent bullying by the farmers on the issue of production of bio-fuels using maize is but one example of how insensitive the market is to the basic needs of our people. The recent electricity crisis, including the proposed hikes, all signals to caring less and less about the quality of life of South Africans.
Of course this are not isolated events but an integral part of having embraced a barbaric economic system in Capitalism, which knows no respect for fundamental human rights. Profit matters, not the quality of life! This is what as the SACP we are prepared to fight and bring to an end. A better and humane South Africa is possible.
As we celebrate this human rights day, many of our counterparts in Swaziland continue to be subjected to the most backward and one of the few remaining monarchs. This monarch has unleashed police brutality against those who legitimately demand democracy in that country. Of course the self proclaimed universal human rights advocates are silent on the issue of Swaziland including our own SADC leaders. The SACP will continue to engage in Solidarity actions, including pressing for more and more blockades, to liberate Swaziland. We deeply abhor the use of violence against the people of Swaziland by the Tinkundla regime.
Equally, the people of Zimbabwe will be going to the polls on the 29th of March. We are less persuaded that conditions do exist for democratic and peacefull elections in Zimbabwe. The declarations by the Head of Security agencies that they will not accept any outcome besides the one that maintains the status qou is the worst that could have come out of them. It was indeed irresponsible for our government and the SADC leaders, including the AU, to allow elections to go ahead under such conditions. We need to continue to help the people of Zimbabwe to come out of the political and economic abyss the find themselves in.
The SACP is aware that many of our people will be on the road travelling to various destinations of rest and veneration. We would like to urge all the drivers to drive safely, our commuters to be vigilant and not allow drunk and tired drivers to drive them. Our commuters should also not allow themselves to be driven in vehicles that are not roadworthy no matter how much they are rushing to get to their destination. Better late than never!
Next month as we commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the cowardly assassination of Comrade Chris Hani, the 30th anniversary of the passing away of Comrade Moses Mabhida and the 15th anniversary of the passing away of Comrade Oliver Tambo, we will use the April month to take forward our campaign to defend our people against the assault on their living standards.
Issued by the SACP.
Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802