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The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Mpumalanga conveyed its 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) via virtual platform on Sunday from 10h00 to 19h30.

The meeting was attended by all the PEC members, the YCLSA and Central Committee members deployed in the province. The PEC meeting had robust engagements and deliberated on a number of issues both domestically and abroad which affect the working-class and poor people in the current political and economic conjuncture.

The meeting received the Political Report from the Provincial Secretary who outlined the marching programme that will guide the SACP in the province to continue to play its meaningful role in society. The meeting agreed that the National Democratic Revolution is facing serious challenges that are still informed by the race, class and gender contradictions in our country.

The SACP Mpumalanga PEC condemned the perpetual rise of the repo rate resulting in increasing prices of basic necessities that are becoming unaffordable to the working-class and poor. It agreed that the South African Reserve Bank has lost its mandate and relevance in the main and, therefore, supported the call for its nationalisation.

Contact crimes in South Africa are increasing daily. The meeting showed concerns about the rise in the number of car hijacking and theft incidents in the province. This is also exacerbated by the continued power cuts resulting in load-shedding in the country. The Party in the province calls for law enforcement agencies not to sleep on duty, but to work and protect the people in our country, particularly women and children. 

Load-shedding is also responsible for the decline of our country’s economy as well as the prospects of economic growth which remain bleak. The most adversely affected in this are small businesses, largely run by township dwellers relying on them to put food on the table. The SACP Mpumalanga PEC calls on the government to reimburse those small business owners so as to revive their ailing businesses.

The meeting also noted with disgust the growing number of frivolous attacks on the MECs deployed in various departments in our province and is done by faceless people based on factionalism, regionalism and the scramble for tenders. This phenomenon is gaining traction in social networks where tenderpreneurs are using young people to insult MECs that are not subscribing to the agenda of corruption and factionalism. We view this tendency as counter-revolutionary which will disadvantage the movement’s drive towards renewing itself and further promote divisions. The Party stands by the unity, rebuilding and renewal of the movement especially during this difficult period of our revolution.

The PEC also condemned the behaviour of the South African government and Mpumalanga with its relationship to the government of Swaziland. Despite numerous conference resolutions on the Swazi question, the ANC-led government and its leaders continue to do business with Mswati and his tinkhundla regime. We view this act as counter-revolutionary and disrespect to the peace and democracy-loving people of Swaziland. We therefore call for the government and the SADC community to impose sanctions on Mswati and his government and to practically support the freedom fighters of Swaziland.

The Party welcomed the efforts by the African leaders who went on a peace-keeping mission in Ukraine and Russia led by President Ramaphosa. We also condemn the behaviour of NATO and the USA in particular in their role during this conflict. The United States needs to understand that the world is no longer unipolar and it cannot continue to police and control the world as it did. It must understand that the world is a better place if there is peace and harmony among the nations.

The SACP in the province will continue to be the voice of reason to the working-class and poor and will not turn a blind eye where there are injustices. But to do this, it will need a strong popular left front that will fight against capitalist tyranny that continues to oppress the working-class and poor.

Issued by SACP Mpumalanga Province