Forward to Socialism!! - South African Communist Party

34 Umsebenzi
quence of this, current transformation
that occurs in the system sharpens and
deepens the contradictions at various levels
in the country.
The PCdoB asserted that, as ‘a consequence,
the central challenge is in deciding
how to act to take advantage of the
convergence of conditions that will allow
the success of the alternative path, rather
than that of the dominant neo-liberal
capitalist rulers’. In the face of unfavourable
relationship of forces, it is crucial,
leaders of the PCdoB argue, to make
immense efforts to accumulate strategic
forces on the side of the left-Brazilian revolution.
Lula addresses Congress
The 12th Congress of PCdoB was also addressed
by President Lula, who was accompanied
by Cde Dilma Rousseff –
punted by Lula as his successor for the
PT-led progressive popular left forces in
the polls of 2010. Cde Lula’s presence at
the 12th Congress was underscored by
longstanding relations – both at personal
and organisational levels – with the PCdoB
and its re-elected president cde Renato
Rabelo.
South Africa and Brazil have lots in
common but there are also huge differences,
which are aspects of the unique
processes of development in these countries.
But, both countries are also seeking
to develop alternative paths of development
which place at the core of their socio-economic
political project, the previously
marginalised and disadvantaged,
and indigenous peoples and others who
were in the periphery during the period
of military dictatorship and apartheid
while also, simultaneously seeking to play
important roles in their respective regional
spheres, the South and the globe.
There are clear indications for both our
organisations to enhance the work underway,
but also develop mechanisms of
implementation which will ensure that
we are better placed to take advantage of
the progressive developments occurring
both at national and international levels
to advance the struggles of the workers
and poor, indigenous people, rural and
landless masses. South Africa and Brazil
both have significant responsibilities in
their regions and beyond and would have
to engage more to ensure more effective
outcomes of cooper-ation.
Cdes Majola and Matlhako are SACP PB
members
INTERNATIONAL
CORRESPONDENCE
The International
Correspondence and
International Annual
Seminars
By Patrick Theuret and Che Matlhako
At the 12th Congress of the SACP
held in 2007, one of the most forward-looking
resolutions was on
the International. The Party underscores
its understanding and elaboration
of Marxism-Leninism in upholding Internationalism
as a key component of its
Marxism.
A delegate said:, “The emphasis our
movement places on the necessity for internationalism
does not arise from subjective
considerations. Rather, it is a reflection
of the most profound objective
tendencies in the world capitalist economy
itself. Any scientific examination of
this crisis – this capitalist breakdown -establishes
that there is no national solution
to the myriad of problems now confronting
the working class and the masses
as a whole – whether in the US, Australia,
Britain, or in China, India and elsewhere.”
The Party has for many years placed a
premium on its Internationalism and fraternal
relations with like-minded organisations
across the world. These efforts
have continued in the period since the
1994 democratic breakthrough.
The Party has maintained that the
most effective elaboration of these fraternal
relations is through the organisational
expressions and through people-to-people
relations. These buttress state-tostate
relations as managed by the ANC
government and also the ANC as a party
Che Matlhako and Patrick Theuret
Background of International
Correspondence
It was on 17 October 1998, under the
name of Institute of Social and Political
Studies – International Correspondence
that this international platform and
framework was born with the direct involvement
of the SACP. The General Secretary
Cde Blade Nzimande was the driving
force behind the initiative, following
previous French-based experiences from
1991. Since then, it has played a role of reflection
and analysis based on a scientific
approach, on commitment and non-contentious
discussions. It is independent of
any specific political organisation but
with the perspective of a worldwide regrouping
of Marxist, anti-imperialist people
from different countries. Contributions
came from about 20 countries and
links with 30 others were forged in this
period. It paid special attention to South
African developments and SACP activities
in particular.
In the course of these 10 years, the
achievements can be summed up as follows:
• Publishing a review in five languages
(English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
and Arabi c)
• Jointly organising public debates with
national papers or reviews in various
fêtes and international forums – mainly
on the theme ‘Socialism for the 21st Century’.
• Invitations to initiatives of international
importance (congresses, conferences,
fact-finding journeys on four continents).
• Holding general assessment meetings
at least once a year.
• Launching a website
Since 2007, a new transitional phase
unfolded to enable a redefinition of the
project so as to stimulate it in a new way.
The outcome of this thinking, resulting
from numerous engagements, culminated
in the Sao Paulo seminar. This followed
an international seminar organised jointly
with the PCdoB and PT of Brazil and
their respective foundations during June
2009. The seminar, was themed ‘The International
crisis and left alternative’. The
general secretary of SACP cde Blade Nzimande
was invited but could not attend
December 2009