This report was prepared by a comrade autoworker in South Africa for a recent international meeting.
UITENHAGE (South Africa), August 2— I am a former Young Communist League branch leader and secretary, and a local secretary of the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa. Both organizations are guided by Marxist-Leninist ideology.
We need a revolutionary transition to communism to form a stateless, classless society where the means of production are collectively owned and controlled. Hence, we see the need to overthrow this current brutal system.
This transition will be driven by the inherent contradictions in capitalism, especially the exploitation of the working class by owning class. This leads to the proletariat’s increasing awareness of its shared interests. And ultimately to a revolution that overthrows the capitalist system.
Ideological Pillars of Communism
First, capitalism’s inherent drive for profit creates internal tensions that will lead to its downfall. These include the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, the exploitation of workers, and periodic economic crises. Capitalism is not an alternative. It is a crisis on its own.
Another pillar is the proletarian revolution. Marx envisioned the proletariat united by their shared experiences of exploitation, rising up to seize political power.
Then there is the dictatorship of the proletariat, the transitional phase. Other Marxists have proposed a period where the working class will control the state to suppress any counterrevolution from the bourgeoisie. And to begin the process of dismantling capitalist culture.
Another pillar is the communist society that we are admiring. Communist society is characterized by common ownership of the means of production. Land, factories, other resources, will be owned collectively. And by the abolition of exploitation, where capitalists extract surplus value by paying workers less than the value they create. That falls under the brutality of capitalism.
South African Automotive Industry
The automotive industry is a significant part of the South African economy. This key manufacturing sector accounts for a substantial portion of the value added. It faces challenges like the energy crisis and economic showdowns. But it still holds significant opportunities for growth, especially with EVs.
When the automotive sector has a crisis, who suffers most are the workers. Not the owners who cause the crisis. When capitalism is in any form of crisis, it is always hitting hard to the working class majority and the poor.
Workers Key to Growing ICWP Membership
That is my strength: mass mobilization and building a mass base for the organization. We should actively seek new members from various sectors, particularly from the working class and trade unions. While emphasizing ideological clarity and political education.
The party should aim to strengthen our presence within existing progressive organizations and expand into new ones, focusing on shop stewards and people in key leadership positions. We should identify potential members through targeted outreach, meetings, and door-to-door campaigns.
My work is based on workers, my understanding of mobilizing the working class, and building a mass-based organization. I focus on recruiting workers who are angry at capitalism and exploited by capitalists. Those angry forces will strengthen our revolutionary mission of overthrowing the capitalist class for communism.
We should aim to recruit from the broader working class. It’s important to understand their needs and aspirations as we are continuously recruiting. We should expand their ideological clarity. The ICWP should emphasize the need to spread communist ideology and its application to South African conditions, particularly amongst the working class.
The party should seek to build a strong foundation for communist thought and action through political education programs. Both within the party and in trade unions, so as not to leave them behind.
Our recruitment strategy must attach theory with action. We need to organize public meetings and events to engage potential members. And explain that ICWP goes directly to masses. We need young people to help with door-to-door campaigns and to engage with individuals in their communities. That will expand ICWP’s vision and recruit more members.
We need engagement in community social organizations, partnering with leftist organizations and sectors to reach a broader audience and build relationships with potential members.
Lastly, we also need more recruitment materials. We have started distributing Red Flag pamphlets to inform potential members about ICWP.
From Gaza to Gqeberha
We discuss what is happening in the world, like the Gaza situation, to find ways of pledging solidarity. The UN is not even paying attention to the Gaza genocide. South Africa had experience with Apartheid. We don’t want to see it happening in another country.
We need to keep on doing the work of recruiting members, spreading the word, and taking actions that show the world what ICWP stands for. I am going to work tirelessly to make sure ICWP is on the map in South Africa.
What ICWP is trying to bring to the people’s understanding is what the people need.
Pamphlet: Bigger Industrial Working Class, Bigger Communist Potential Worldwide: here