POLITICS

SACP KZN on Shaik, Ethekwini and the Three Amigos trial

PEC says it believes prosecution of Nkonyeni & Co. is political

SACP MOSES MABHIDA PEC LEKGOTLA STATEMENT

The South African Communist Party (SACP) Moses Mabhida Province (previously known as KZN) held its PEC Lekgotla from the 20th to the 22nd of January 2012. The PEC lekgotla was attended by Office Bearers, directly elected PEC members and district secretaries.

A number of issues were discussed at the recent lekgotla including the following:

i) A look at the three congresses of the ANC, SACP and COSATU which will be taking place this year and what role the party is supposed to play at these congresses.

ii) 2012 Programme of the South Africa Communist Party (SACP)

iii) Media reports about the reported fallout between President Jacob Zuma and his former financial adviser Mr Schabir Shaik.

iv) Corruption within Ethekwini Municipality.

v) The so-called Amigos Trial.

A LOOK AT THE THREE CONGRESSES OF THE ANC, SACP and COSATU.

The Lekgotla readied itself for the busy political calendar of the year in which the alliance partners will be holding the national elective conferences. The SACP will hold its congress in July, Cosatu in September and finally the ANC in December.

We as the Moses Mabhida province resolved to work hard as we will be hosting the national congress in July this year. We are also going to actively participate in the preparation of the Cosatu congress. Another key pillar of our programme will be to work actively to unite and consolidate the ANC towards its policy conference and ultimately the Mangaung conference.

2012 PROGRAMMES OF THE SACP IN THE MOSES MABHIDA PROVINCE

We resolved that our key pillars of our campaigns for the 2012 programme of action will be as follows:

i) To campaign for people's education and skills development

ii) Building solidarity and transforming the financial sector.

iii) Building people' power for rural development.

iv) We also need to intensify our fight against corruption in the above spheres and beyond.

v) We will also be consolidating the National Democratic Revolution through building dynamic revolutionary alliance and consolidating the unity of revolutionary forces in general.

vi) We will also be dedicating this year towards building a strong and vibrant YCL together with the structures of the YCL.

MEDIA REPORTS SURROUNDING THE SCHABIR SHAIK'S REPORTED FALLOUT WITH PRESIDENT ZUMA.

The PEC noted media reports about the public outcry by Schabir Shaik's on the money said to be owed by President Jacob Zuma to his former financial adviser. We view this public outcry as not innocent and very unfortunate and possibly motivated by ulterior motives. We are not going to allow our government and our president to give special treatment to any family including the Shaiks and Guptas.

We cannot allow our government especially and the Presidency to be held at ransom by any individual.

CORRUPTION WITHIN ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY

Lekgotla was very disturbed and disappointed by the continued reports on financial irregularities and corruption within Ethekwini municipality. What we have witnessed so far is a political treatment of reports rather than corrective treatment and action. There is a pile of reports that have not been acted upon by the Ethekwini municipality that have never seen the light of the day. These reports that are alleging a litany of conflicts of interests involving former mayor, former councillors, employees and some current councillors.

We will continuously engage the leadership of Ethekwini Municipality and COGTA to put pressure so that these matters are given appropriate attention and culprits should face the full might of the law.

THE SO CALLED AMIGOS TRIAL

We welcome the fact that the matter has been set down for trial from the beginning of October to December 14, just few days before the Mangaung conference. However the timing of the trial date reinforces our long held beliefs that the matter is political. But we will continue to give support to our comrades who will be standing trial and we believe that they will be vindicated. As the SACP in the Moses Mabhida region we still believe that the embattled national director of Public Prosecutions Mr Menzi Simelane still has a lot to answer regarding this case, especially the conduct of the NPA during and after the arrest of the suspects.

Statement issued by SACP Moses Mabhida Provincial Secretary Themba Mthembu, January 23 2012

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