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South Africa:

Building Communist Collectives

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PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA, April 20—The ruling African National Congress (ANC) decided to launch its manifesto for the upcoming local elections in this industrial city.  All the top ANC politicians canvassed heavily in the townships to mobilize the workers for their rally last Saturday. 
The masses are angry with ANC and capitalism that are creating havoc in the lives of the impoverished townships.  Just how angry can be seen when the Minister of Social Development Dlamini was reduced to tears when angry residents of New Brighton confronted her over the lack of services.
President Zuma sensed the explosive anger spreading among the workers in Port Elizabeth.  He cancelled his appearance at the opening of a drug treatment center.  He decided to inaugurate the ANC manifesto in the football stadium in an event carefully planned by the rich capitalist backers of ANC.
Members of the International Communist Workers’ Party were present outside the stadium distributing the Red Flag and our May Day leaflet calling for communist revolution.  “Give me extra copies of Red Flag,” said a worker who had come from a city near Johannesburg.  He took 10 copies.  Over 1200 leaflets and 300 Red Flags were distributed.
There is a deep crisis in the South African ruling class, resulting from intense inter-imperialist rivalry between US and Chinese capitalists.  A section of the capitalist class that leads the ANC feels the South African capitalists can benefit by allying with the Chinese capitalists in mining, auto, energy and heavy industry. 
To make the investments profitable for the Chinese and Russian bosses, the ANC administration is creating state-of-the-art ports, railways and highways to transport minerals, machinery and auto.  Meanwhile the working class, mostly black workers, lives in dilapidated townships lacking water, sanitation and health care.
Fifteen members of ICWP met the day after the ANC rally to discuss our strategy to end capitalist terror worldwide.  Seven were new comrades who joined our party during the conference last November. 
We had an open and honest discussion about our obstacles and weaknesses.  The comrades were very enthusiastic about our fight for communism – a society without the bosses and organized to meet the need of the international working class.  However, to achieve that goal we have to overcome our inconsistent work style. 
What pulls us away from doing disciplined work to build the party?  Several comrades pointed out that the ideology of capitalism, which pushes us to compete against each other, also affects us. 
“We have to work hard to build the party.  I went to the workers far from where I live and distributed Red Flag,” said a comrade as she described her experience of building the party.  Everybody intently listened as she told us how the workers are responding to communism. 
This comrade was showing all the comrades how we can overcome individualism and build collectives to defeat our class enemy.  Another comrade who has known her for many years pledged to work tirelessly to raise funds for the party.  Everybody can contribute something. 
We will make sure the distribution of Red Flag also raises money for the party to expand our work.  The comrades also emphasized the importance of explaining to the masses what it means to join the party.
Our meeting concluded with plans to bring a large contingent of ICWP members and friends to May Day to be followed by a Communist School. Comrades are very enthusiastic about the Communist School to learn dialectical materialism and how to apply it to mobilize the masses for communism.

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