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The South African Communist Party in Moses Mabhida Province held a Provincial Council during the past weekend, from the 29 to the 30 June 2019, in Umbumbulu Coastal TVET College, in the south of Durban. Our Provincial Council was attended by delegates from the length and breadth of the province, from all our districts. Its purpose was to assess our political situation and discuss ways and means of both organisationally and politically strengthening the Party. The Provincial Council reached the following conclusions.

Auditor General's report

The Provincial Council sat during a period when the nation was in a high mood on the recent deployments under the 6th administration of the country. The Auditor-General, Kimi Makwetu, had just released the 2017/2018 audit report when the Provincial Council convened. The report covers the state of municipal finance management across the country. The report details a lot of mismanagement, irregularities and shows that only 18 municipalities received a clean audit while many municipalities regressed. The audit outcomes underline that municipal finance management has actually worsened and are shocking.

The quality of municipal financial statements reflects lack of capacity and credibility. The high level of non-compliance with procurement regulations seriously and deeply concerns the SACP. The Provincial Council reiterated the Party’s dissatisfaction with the manner in which officials and principals run our local institutions, with the associated lack proper and accurate accountability.
 
The regression in municipal financial management took place in municipalities run by the ANC, IFP and DA alike, which is a disgrace to our democracy. The Provincial Council called for decisive consequence management without fear, favour and prejudice.
 
In particular, the ANC needs to make self-introspection and assess the need to enforce laws against irregular, wasteful, fruitless and unauthorised spending, and deal corruption a blow – else corruption will deal it a blow. The Alliance reconfigured as a crucial role to play in fighting corruption. To this end the SACP will strengthen its efforts.
The SACP condemns the hostility staged against the AG in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. State institutions must protect whistleblowers, who risk their lives to expose crime and corruption in local institutions. Decisive steps must be taken against those who threatened and intimidated AG’s workers.
 
The SACP will host a Social Service Delivery Imbizo where the Party will invite all relevant stakeholders to curb the scourge of corruption and fraud facing our municipalities.
 
Retrenchments
 
The SACP is deeply worried about the current increase in retrenchments. The debate around the Future of Work and the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution needs our government to reinvent itself in creating innovative opportunities, support the South African workforce to fit in with the technological transitions and expand and diversify national production to radically reduce unemployment.
 
We need to give practical meaning towards the elections manifesto. Government must deliver on its commitments and create sustainable jobs. Emphasis on moving the national democratic revolution on to a second more radical phase and advancing, deepening and defending the transition is very crucial and its importance cannot be overemphasised.  The SACP will meet with COSATU in a bilateral to further deliberate in these matters and chat the way forward as part of advancing Alliance engagements and reconfiguration of which all require consistent engagements with the ANC as well.
 
Public Protector
 
The Provincial Council expressed full agreement with the Party’s position on the Public Protector and accordingly reiterated the call that the incumbent Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, must face a Parliamentary inquiry into her fitness to hold office.  The SACP in Moses Mabhida Province fully supports the First Deputy General Secretary of the Party, Comrade Solly Mapaila and will be with him through and through.
 
Provincial State Capture Commission
 
Our Provincial Council also resolved to call for the establishment of a Provincial State Capture Commission in KwaZulu-Natal and factors related to the near-collapse or collapse of our municipalities. Those who consciously manage the affairs of the bourgeoisie through our state institutions, fill their pockets with fat cheques, while communities remain in poverty, must be held to account. The SACP will engage with the new provincial administration to establish this judicial commission of enquiry into state capture in our province.
 
Further, the imbalances and historic injustices sustained by the capitalist market must be tackled decisively. The extent to which state capture is a function of the outsourcing of the role of state establishments, the hollowing out of their strategic capacity, thus the failure to build a capable democratic national developmental state, and the political economy of privatisation must not be left out but thoroughly investigated.    
 
Moses Mabhida gravesite
 
The SACP and Moses Mabhida family were horrified to find the gravesite in appalling conditions. The tombstone was ejected without any form of consultation from both parties. The Party learnt that the Heritage Zamafa in Umsunduzi Municipality were responsible for this action. They have subsequently promised to erect the tombstone in due course. It is however unfortunate that this is not the only. A similar thing was done to the gravesite of Johnny Makhathini and, until today, no progress has been made to erect the tombstone. This is a condescending by the municipalities. The SACP is calling on the municipality to fast track the process in order to restore the dignity of our fallen leaders. The Provincial Council further called on the municipalities to respect the families of our late leaders and consult with them in good faith to finalise this process.
 
Public transport and gender based violence
 
The SACP will embark on campaigns to provide safe and reliable public transport. The Provincial Council called on the MEC for Safety, Community Liaison and Transport, Mxolisi Kaunda, to enforce laws against taxi owners who are placing the public at risk while fighting their internal differences. The Provincial Council condemned the recent incident that took place in Mandeni and the shooting between security personnel, who sustained serious injuries. The Department must come up with alternative solutions to resolve the fights taking place in the taxi industry.
 
The SACP will be strengthening its Red October Campaign objective of deepening the fight against gender based violence and abuse of women, children and people with disabilities.
 
The Provincial Council called on the South African Police Service will bring to book and ensure that the so-called “umalume” who impregnated a 12 year old is successfully prosecuted. The SACP is further calling for more police visibility in every corner of the province to tackle criminality. We urge our communities to work with our law enforcement agencies.
 
Swaziland
 
The Provincial Council was joined by the representatives of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS). The Council resolved to embark on joint programmes with the CPS in support of democracy in Swaziland.  The Tinkhundla regime of the absolute monarchy prevailing in Swaziland has become more aggressive with a do not care attitude towards the people. As a result lack of basic services and intimidation by security forces, making life impossible to build a productive society, has entrenched in Swaziland. We will collaborate with COSATU in the next few weeks to stage pickets at the border as part of our concerted efforts to demonstrate our solidarity.

Issued by SACP