The joint statement issued by the South African Communist Party and Cosatu following the bilateral meeting held on April 26 demonstrates the continuing unhappiness being experienced by the left-wing elements of the tripartite alliance at the lack of direction and progress being made on socio-economic issues at present.
It records that over the years since achieving liberation “there has not been an effort to radically transform the colonial features of our economy. Attempts to simply deracialise and to co-opt women and youth into this growth pattern have not been helpful”.
“In this regard the leadership of the SACP and Cosatu has agreed to pay attention to the debate within the alliance on the need for an alternative growth path whose central agenda is creating decent work and making a decisive break from the colonial character of our economy. Among this is the need to create a green economy and green jobs, all of which cannot simply be pursued within the capitalist framework.”
The statement drawn on the eve of Freedom Day then records their belief that South Africa is the most unequal society in the world with 50% living in poverty with delivery on housing, education and health being unacceptable.
While inroads into the fight against HIV/Aids are welcomed, unemployment, crime and corruption are seen as major concerns which needed to be dealt with urgently.
- “We fully agree with President Zuma that if we do not address these challenges we cannot confidently face our people any more and blame apartheid. The time is now to make a qualitative policy shift away from the failed policies of the past for the sake of our people. This is not an ideological beauty contest, it is the future of our country and this democracy which we must jealously guard.
To this end, we need to deepen ideological development of both SACP and Cosatu cadres for them to defend the working class character of the alliance as a whole, the ANC and its policies. We did not go to Polokwane to wholesale our revolution to the new elite. We went to Polokwane for a radical change and we will continue to defend that change including in the economy — a break with a modernising approach to an economy that needs radical systemic changes.
We went to Polokwane to build new ethos and values, to elect a caring leadership which shows compassion and listens to the people. We went to Polokwane to elect a leadership that is preoccupied with building a strong ANC and committed to the proper functioning of the alliance. When that alliance functions to shout a takeover from the roof tops is misleading and not in line with what we went to Polokwane for. The SACP and Cosatu commit themselves to build at all levels a working alliance and strengthen our bilateral co-operation.
The bilateral agreed that the Joint Socialist Commission led by both General Secretaries must iron out proposal on a joint programme which will include amongst others mechanism to maximize working class unity and build a broad left front for Socialism. We further agreed to reconvene in due course to continue to debate in detail matters of tactical postures in the current period.”
Within the tripartite alliance or without
While it is clear that both the SACP and Cosatu have reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance in the statement, the question needs to be asked whether they can achieve their central goal of an alternative growth path within the present structure.
The benefit of being part of the alliance is that they remain close to the centre of power with material ways of bringing influence to bear in the decision-making process of government. In addition, their members play a vital role in all areas of the ruling party’s structures and government.
Accordingly to divorce themselves from that is not a step that would ever be taken lightly or achieved overnight.
The very real problem is, however, that while they can influence decisions they cannot make them in the areas which they believe are crucial to the radical transformation of the economy. This has led to increasing frustration with calls to make the alliance, rather than the ANC, the centre of power.
This would be tantamount to an abdication of power for the ANC if they were to accept it, which they won’t.
Accordingly this debate is not going to go away soon and will undoubtedly reach a head.
That will come about as a result of a major event, such as the alliance suffering a setback at the poles, which will form the catalyst for rethinking the present alliance and its policy direction or the left wing — pursuant to substantial internal pressure — making a break.
In reality events might simply overtake them and force the issue.
Presently
Though many have lived with the “rooi gevaar” being bombarded at them during apartheid, the time has come to accept that whether they are part of the tripartite alliance or not, the left wing have a very positive part to play in South Africa.
In terms of uplifting the masses, fighting crime and corruption and holding the ruling party and government abuse in check, they along with the opposition parties are vital to the wellbeing of the country.
South Africans need to lift the veil of scepticism that was built up by the apartheid government and start examining the merits and demerits of their individual policies. Much of it is for the benefit of all citizens.
Whether we are seeing the birth of a Labour Party or not, the left wing today is playing a vital role in trying to uplift the masses, and in that goal — and its success — lies the future of a prosperous South Africa.
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