South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Dr Blade Nzimande on Wednesday called on party members to intensify the struggle for socialism and unite the working-class “for the final victory towards complete liberation and social emancipation”, as part of South African politician Joe Slovo’s legacy.

Nzimande was speaking during the virtual 26th commemoration of Slovo's passing, held at Avalon Cemetery, in Soweto, in Johannesburg.

“Continuing consultation to strengthen the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan is essential; that should include adopting targets to reduce inequality, unemployment and poverty,” he said.

He said Slovo had dedicated his life to the cause of liberation, the social emancipation of the working class and noted that he was a key leader of the apartheid struggle, a great theoretician, strategist and tactician.

The SACP reiterated its support for government’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan supported by the labour and community constituencies at the National Economic Development and Labour Council.

“We wish to underline the importance of financial sector transformation. This should include prescribed investment and building a developmental banking sector and a thriving cooperative banking sector. We will continue to campaign for the diversification of the financial sector, generally, and the banking sector in particular. Our banking system must also include a strong and dynamic public banking sector and a cooperative banking sector,” Nzimande stated.

He said the party also supported infrastructure development as a cornerstone in the economic reconstruction and recovery strategy.

Mass Mobilisation on Crises of the Capitalist System

Nzimande explained that the country needed to forge alternative forms of mass mobilisation and mass activism, considering not only the Covid-19 pandemic but also the other crises of “the capitalist system”, saying new and creative ways to do intense work must be developed.

He further explained that things could not continue in the same way as pre-Covid-19.

“We therefore reiterate our support for the Covid-19 preventative measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 28 December 2020. We call upon every person and family in South Africa to adhere to the Covid-19 preventative regulations.

The party also commits to play its part in forging a broad global left campaign for the equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. Nzimande said the campaign would challenge the “dominant profit logic driven by big pharmaceutical companies”.