YCL CONGRESS EDITION - South African Communist Party

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38 UMSEBENZI Cde Isu is 80! A major commemoration was held to observe SACP and ANC veteran and former Robben Islander, cde Lalo Isu Chiba’s, 80th birthday in Lenasia. Among the speakers were Cdes Ahmed Kathrada, Toyko Sekwale and Ronnie Kasrils. The SACP expresses its good wishes to Cde Isu. “Your eye is quick to see those in need. Your bravery as an MK soldier will never be forgotten, nor will your courage in withstanding torture after your capture. We respect the iron discipline which prevented you from telling us about those experiences until years after we had left prison.” – cde Nelson Mandela’s birthday message to cde Isu December 2010
UMSEBENZI 39 SACP IN CUBA SACP and CCP agree to meet more regularly Parties agree to more regular exchanges – through their youth wings, student exchanges – and to strengthen the Cuba international solidarity movement BY CHRIS MATLHAKO On the invitation of the Cuban Communist Party (CCP), the SACP sent a senior delegation to Cuba in October as part of ongoing exchanges between our two fraternal parties. The delegation met representatives of the CCP Central Committee, the International Department, provincial structures of the CCP, the Young Communist League, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, trade unions, agricultural cooperatives, and Committees for the Defence of the Revolution, as well as the Minister of Higher Education. The delegation also visited a school and clinic and various sites of cultural and historical interest. The delegation met representatives of the Cuban Five (see article in this issue) Much of the exchanges revolved around economic and other challenges Cuba is currently experiencing. Our Cuban comrades explained that the US blockade was now biting even more in the context of the post-2008 global crisis. They emphasised that it was not true that the government was firing half-amillion workers. These workers, they stressed, are being re-organised, and directed to other sectors of the economy, mainly food production, where they will be more productive. Discussions on the re-organisation were taking place with trade unions and workers. The government is to continue with its social assistance to the affected workers. Those who do not take up the SACP delegation leader cde Solly Mapaila and cde Yunus Carrim flank their Cuban host jobs offered by government are free to become self-employed. The government has lifted restrictions in 178 areas. These include transport providers, bricklayers, stonemasons, plumbers, electricians, panel-beaters, shoe-repairers, hairdressers, shoe-makers, accountants and so on. People will also be allowed to own restaurants with up to 20 seats. They have to use labour from the owners’ families, but they can also employ a limited number of people. The changes to the economy, it was stressed, were directed at consolidating the Cuban revolution, and were not a deviation from socialism. The new conditions require adaptations to secure the socialist project. There were also discussions on the current global terrain and the opportunities to advance socialism. The need for closer relations between the South African and Cuban communist parties was stressed. The delegations agreed to engage in more regular exchanges. Another major theme of the visit was the need to step up global support for the Cuban Five. South Africa has a key role to play in this regard, and as the SACP we committed ourselves to intensifying the campaign. The CCP believes that the legal courses open to free the Cuban Five are now almost exhausted and it is only through mass global pressure and appeals to the US authorities that the Cuban Five will be released. For the Cuban government, the release of the Five is of the utmost importance., as it is for progressives the world over. The delegation was very impressed with the Cuban education and health systems, and found the visits to a primary school and polyclinic very useful. Perhaps the most inspiring part of our visit was meeting with members of a Committee for the Defence of the Revolution. It showed very clearly the popular base of the Cuban Revolution Among the issues the parties agreed to: l Enhance youth mobilisation and exchange through our youth-wings, l Increase student exchanges for purposes of building a revolutionary consciousness among future workers and professionals l Share our perspectives with broader constituencies of the international working class and labour movement, l Attend each other’s key political and commemorative events such as congresses, and May Day celebrations l Further enhance the scope and depth of the solidarity movement with Cuba. l Cde Matlhako is the SACP Politburo Secretary for International Relations December 2010
Page 1 and 2: Communism: Not the riddle, but the
Page 3 and 4: YCL NATIONAL CONGRESS Post-Polokwan
Page 5 and 6: IPAP 2 The nuts and bolts of the Ne
Page 7 and 8: IPAP 2 aims to halt the decline in
Page 9 and 10: DISCUSSION PAPER Capitalism’s cri
Page 11 and 12: continued expansion to access and a
Page 13 and 14: DISCUSSION PAPER Social transformat
Page 15 and 16: ADOPTED AT THE 2003 RE-ESTABLISHMEN
Page 17 and 18: (dialectically) linked to socialism
Page 19 and 20: the multiplier effects that this wi
Page 21 and 22: BEE Fronting is the norm in South A
Page 23 and 24: YCL 3rd National Congress pull-out
Page 25 and 26: December 2010
Page 27 and 28: Cde Nathi Mthethwa (with water bott
Page 29 and 30: CIVIL SOCIETY The Civil Society Con
Page 31 and 32: tions underpinning the conference?
Page 33 and 34: SACP MEMBERSHIP 20 000 new Red Sout
Page 35 and 36: We host the 12th gathering of commu
Page 37: COSATU Cosatu President S’dumo Dl
Page 41 and 42: US protestors challenge ex-presiden
Page 43 and 44: ised (and stating that) the problem
Page 45 and 46: SWAZILAND Mswati’s regime’s bru
Page 47 and 48: Defiant SUDF protestors demanding d

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