27 May 2024
Dear Comrades, members of SADTU, and education workers,
It is an honor to stand before you today, as we are gathered here not just as members of SADTU, but as students, educators, workers, and active participants in the ongoing struggle for a more just and equitable South Africa for all. Our nation stands at a critical crossroads, and it is our collective duty to steer it towards a future grounded in socialist principles and the well-being of all its people. The challenges we face—the triple crises of economic and energy instability, crime and amoung others the youth employment crisis, these are exploitative mechanisms of capitalist social reproduction and thus demands our unwavering resolve, discipline and unity.
The 15th Congress of the South African Communist Party (SACP) has set forth a clear resolution: to advance the South African struggle for socialism. We are tasked with building a popular socialist movement rooted in the working class and the poor. This mission is not merely aspirational; it is an urgent imperative in the face of increasing inequalities and systemic injustices perpetuated by the neo-liberal exploitation machine.
Our Central Committee has further resolved to actively participate in the forthcoming general elections through a reconfigured alliance led by the African National Congress (ANC). Simultaneously, we aim to fortify the independent profile of the SACP and strengthen the broader left front. This strategic engagement is crucial to ensuring that our socialist agenda remains at the forefront of national debate and discourse.
SADTU has demonstrated exceptional dedication in engaging education workers across the country. Your grassroots approach to activism is prudent, as Marx highlighted, unions are indeed the schools of solidarity and socialism. Unions must be directed and controlled by the workers themselves, reflecting their needs and aspirations from the ground up. This bottom-up approach is essential for a active and effective labor movement.
SADTU stands as the most progressive and largest union in the education sector. We must continue to deepen our programmatic relations to strengthen the alliance between students, workers, and youth, especially as we face the critical challenges ahead. The National Democratic Revolution (NDR) is under threat of regression, and it is imperative that we remain vigilant and proactive in its defense.
Moreover, we applaud SADTU for the effective implementation of the COSATU resolution to establish the SADTU Student Chapter. This chapter is essential for nurturing future leaders and activists. It must focus on recruitment and popular campaigns to attract new members. According to ILO statistics, only 26% of workers in South Africa are unionized. We must work tirelessly to change this narrative and consolidate the left for a popular socialist agenda.
We call on all educators and SADTU members to make an informed and conscious vote in the upcoming elections. Your vote for the ANC in all three ballots at this stage of the revolution is a vote in defense of our right to a socialist state and national sovereignty. We must resist the influence of capital and international interference in our electoral processes, as exemplified by the substantial funding received by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Now, more than ever, the working class must unite to defeat our historical and present class adversaries. We must stand firm against those who seek to undermine our democratic institutions and derail our collective progress. The unity of our movement is our greatest strength, and it is through this unity that we will prevail.
Comrades, let us build on the foundation of solidarity and mutual support. Let us work tirelessly to strengthen our alliances, empower our members, and ensure that our collective voice is heard loud and clear. The future of our nation and the success of our democratic revolution depend on our unwavering commitment and collective action.
Together, we will continue to advance the cause of socialism, defend our democratic gains, and build a just and equitable future for all.
Issued by the National Secretary of the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA)
