Don’t leave alliance

Ramaphosa urges SACP national congress to look ahead

DON’T leave the alliance, but help the ANC-led government grow the economy. This was the central message of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, when he addressed delegates at the SACP’s 14th national congress in Boksburg.

He said the deliberations, decisions and programmes the SACP will adopt would have far-reaching implications for the direction, character and pace of the struggle for a national democratic society.

“We expect this congress will look beyond the challenges of the present towards the strategic decisions that will determine the future of the country and the alliance.

“We need to look beyond the immediate towards the society we all seek to achieve, and, with precision and clarity, to chart the actions that we will undertake to build that society. The ANC policy conference has placed economic growth, job creation and transformation at the centre of policy.”

He urged the SACP to come up with smart and innovative ways to grow the economy. “We look to this congress to deliberate on the outcomes of the ANC policy conference, to complement the policy proposals, and to sharpen the measures identified to accelerate inclusive growth.

“As you ponder and look at this motion on whether the SACP should go off on its own and contest elections, I would like you to pause before you sign on that resolution... pause a little bit comrades. Ask yourselves whether we are better off divided or united?’’ Ramaphosa said to loud cheers and applause from the delegates.

The SACP decided to hold a special congress next year to decide whether to break from the alliance and contest the general elections on their own.

‘’I know that within the ranks of this congress, there are some of us who say it is

time to sue for state power…

“I know one day when we go to the Union Buildings, there should be red flags around with SACP in power… but we have to face reality, comrades. The reality is that as a movement we must not take decisions out of emotions or anger at the ANC because it says nothing about corruption, or that we are angry at the Guptas and so on.’’

Ramaphosa said the SACP congress was taking place at a critical moment for the country and the future of its people. He said there was a feeling of restlessness among many who were pondering how the government was going to address the challenges in relation to politics and the economy, particularly how the country will get out of the recession and address its downgraded status.

He added the country could not advance transformation to any meaningful extent unless the government created employment on a massive scale, particularly for the youth.

“As long as one-third of working-age South Africans are outside the productive economy, all other efforts to redress the injustices of the past will be of limited value.

“We cannot create jobs if the economy is not growing. The economy will not grow unless we achieve far higher levels of fixed investment.”

He said the ANC-led alliance was at its weakest, and that it was time for “friends to unite and build it together (rather) than being separated”.

“There is a long way to go… We do not expect decisions that are going to weaken the alliance. We expect decisions that are going to strengthen the alliance.”