The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Gauteng met in its first virtual Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting held in two instalments on Sunday, 31 May and 7 June 2020 respectively.

PEC meeting took place in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that has necessitated the current lockdown conditions and concomitant precautionary measures such as social distancing to combat the spread the of, Covid-19. 

The first instalment of the PEC held on 31 May 2020, received a report from the Central Committee (CC) convener of deployees, comrade Jenny Schreiner and was also attended by all CC deployees. Taking into account the Covid-19 conditions under which the PEC was convening, the second instalment on 7 June 2020, received reports from the Chairperson of the ANC in the Province, comrade David Makhura as well as the Chairperson of COSATU Gauteng, comrade Amos Monyela. Both presentations centred around Gauteng’s response to the pandemic. This meeting was also attended by the 2nd Deputy General Secretary, comrade Chris Matlhako.

The PEC also received a consolidated political, organisational and financial report presented by Provincial Secretary, comrade Jacob Mamabolo. Amongst the issues that the report raised include:

Covid-19 and the class balance of forces

The PEC notes the importance of engaging with the current global balance of forces since the outbreak of Covid-19, with a focus on the conditions of the working class and the revolutionary people, and the contradictions of USA-British and broadly European Imperialism. Furthermore, the role of Cuba in the world and in our country constitutes a critical point of reference for our analysis and way forward.

In our discussions, the PEC acknowledged the need to consider a series of Party discussion documents released on official Party platforms such as Umsebenzi Online and resolutions of the Special National Congress.

In the final analysis, we agreed to complete the dialectic that observes that neither our country nor the province should ever return to the same crisis of capitalism worsened by the persisting  legacy of the Colonialism of a Special Type (CST) before the global outbreak of Covid-19.

Alliance Relations, reconfiguration and the Left Popular Front

The Alliance Provincial Office Bearers held at least two meetings since the outbreak of Covid-19. These meetings received an overview of the government’s work on Covid-19. This was the basis of the Premier Makhura’s comprehensive report on the work of government on health and the economy.

We reiterated our position that the Alliance meeting should leave challenges pertaining to the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) to the National Political Council. In this regard, statements that sort to deepen the crisis and brake ranks with the united Alliance position, are condemned in the strongest possible terms.

The PEC also condemned the alleged acts of corruption in Covid-19 procurement and alleged acts of corruption relating to the distribution food parcels. We have highlighted the plight of the working class on poverty and hunger. We also announced a campaign to ensure food security through solidarity food campaign in addition to social development programme.

Furthermore, the PEC commended the work of law enforcement for their swift action in apprehending criminals suspected of destruction of schools and public property. We trust that the long arm of justice will deal a decisive blow to this criminality. The PEC also condemned the evictions that were conducted in violation of lockdown regulations by the City of Johannesburg.

We reiterate the view that the housing challenge and many socio-economic problems in our province reflects the CST legacy and apartheid spatial development which sought to dump people in far flung areas away from important amenities and places of work. Therefore, our response must seek to reverse this CST legacy and not exacerbate and deepen the crisis.

In the context of the ongoing Convid-19 crisis, the PEC remains resolute in its call for all community-based and patriotic left organisations to roll-out the Covid-19 Food Solidarity Campaign to fight poverty and hunger. 

Issued by the SACP Gauteng Province