Volume 10, No.2 - March 2001

We're part of the union

SACP Debate

The role of the SACP in the current transformation:

Setting the record straight against our 'internal' detractors.

By Moss Rakolota, Northern Provincial Organiser, CWU, and SACP member, in a personal capacity.

This contribution is made as a result of an article I came across on the Internet, in the Daily Mail and Guardian, apparently compiled by its reporter Jaspreet Kindra.

It alleged that Comrade Jabu Moleketi - ANC NEC member and Gauteng Finance and Economic Affairs MEC - granted them an interview (of which one is not sure and the article itself does not explain how it was conducted) some time after the ANC NEC's recent Lekgotla.

One is therefore tempted to respond to some of the assertions and 'theses' reported to have been made by Cde Moleketi, once and for all to set the record straight, especially as it relates to economic transformation, and the role of the SACP in these fundamental debates within the broad democratic movement in the current conjuncture of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).

To put the discussion in its proper context, Cde Moleketi is quoted as saying:

• Firstly, "You look at some of the issues we take up as the Communist Party - oppose privatisation - you go to China. The Chinese are privatising - there is nothing anti-communist about that. Basically the broad target is to get the economy going and ensure that the resources continue to increase the income of the people."
• Secondly, citing Cuba's adoption of the US currency, in spite of its historical relationship with the US, Cde Jabu asserted: "They had to take this difficult position to protect the revolution and the incomes of the people. What stops the Communist Party (in South Africa) from applying its mind to this issue? They can't just tail the COSATU leadership. They must take positions."
• As if the above is not enough the comrade continues: "We have to take some difficult positions. But the key thing is that these decisions are not taken for self-interest but for the benefit of society. I think people must read that - it isn't a rosy road."
• Fourthly, "You (the SACP) cannot just articulate your role to be critical… or just the voice of COSATU. The SACP must represent the working class which is broader than COSATU's membership, as it includes the unorganised, the poor and rural people."
• Fifthly, as the "leader of the most advanced element of society, the SACP cannot play a mere intermediary role between COSATU and the SACP. They must become an NGO if they want to mediate - they must not call themselves a party."
• Over and above all that, Cde Jabu deemed it fit to say that "COSATU is a school of workers. It prepares workers for class battles… but trade unions, as Lenin said - and I believe it - can't lead society. They can't lead a revolution because by their very nature they are reformists. Labour battles are around negotiations - it is never about taking over (power)."

One would therefore like to 'interrogate' the assertions made, to clarify Cde Jabu and all those harbouring the same sentiments and perhaps not brave enough to openly and frankly engage as he has done. Before dealing with all points raised about the Communist Party, one would like to briefly engage on Cuba's adoption of the US currency and the last point on COSATU.

Yes, Jabu is relatively correct to say that unions are to lead shop-floor struggles in general terms. I also agree that unions are not necessarily meant to lead society, particularly aspiring to take over political power.

Those ultra-left wingers who think along those lines will have to pardon the democratic movement in the country for not buying into such a childish and bookish argument. That said, it is nevertheless important for the organised working class in particular and the urban as well as the rural poor in general, organised under the banner of the SACP as their vanguard, not to get intimidated when articulating and advancing their class interests alongside the democratic alliance led by the ANC.

It would be wrong for any responsible leader to turn a blind eye to the role of COSATU beyond shop-floor struggles. Ours is not a workerist approach to trade unionism, but rather a strategic trade unionism.

On Cuba, one is happy that Cde Jabu acknowledges the historical hardships our brothers and sisters in Cuba have been experiencing, which led them to adopt the US currency. But that does not translate into a justification to endorse any form of privatisation that is aimed at benefiting the few at the expense of the majority of working people.

Thank God Cde Jabu's capitalist path of economic growth in this country and elsewhere is class-blind in character and benefits all the people. Privatisation of state-owned enterprises is not anti-communist in his view. Thanks for your free, though belated, lecture.

As a member of the SACP, I never heard the party pronouncing it to be against either partial or wholesale privatisation per se. But the democratic movement led by the ANC needs to take stock of which assets are productive and strategic in terms of the country's socio-economic and development objectives. Based on such an analysis they should be able to make informed decisions.

Especially where a particular enterprise is partially privatised, the government should remain a major share-holder and hold the balance of power, especially in decision-making, rather than the private partners. The SACP, says Cde Jabu, is perceived to be "tailing the COSATU leadership" and unable to take positions on challenges at hand. This communist of the 21st century even blames the SACP for playing "an intermediary role between the ANC and COSATU".

As has always been the case, the SACP is both an independent organisation and component part of the alliance and broad democratic forces, to ensure that our ideological and theoretical orientations are enriched, to build and sustain the momentum for a thoroughgoing NDR and the realisation of socialism.

In a nutshell, the SACP seeks to influence and participate meaningfully in events and struggles to realise our social, economic and development objectives. No individual or group, however powerful, can be allowed to reduce and relegate this Communist party of Chris Hani, Jo Slovo and Harry Gwala to the status of an NGO at worst, and intermediary between the ANC and COSATU at best.

Perhaps we should emphasise, as cadres of the SACP and members of the ANC in our own right, that the ANC is our own organisation and not the private property of any individual. We shall continue to engage in the ongoing economic and broad transformation debate without succumbing to any intimidation by the emergent elite in the movement and society at large. We will continue our struggle for socialism. Aluta Continua! Socialism is the future, build it now!