1 April 2017, Lisbon, Portugal
Dear Comrades
The 4th National Congress National Committee as well as the rank and file membership of the Young Communist League of South Africa, conveys warm comradely greetings to the Portuguese Communist Youth 11th Congress and thanks you for the invitation to follow its proceedings. Our organizations are connected by strong bonds of cooperation, international solidarity and our joint commitment to Marxism – Leninism, proletarian internationalism, and the relevance and necessity of the struggle for socialism strengthen our friendship.
We further want to extend warm comradely greetings to other communist youth organizations that are present here in this 11th congress of JCP.
As the Young Communist League of South Africa, we want to preface our solidarity message by quoting Cde Samora Machel, when he eloquently speaks about international Solidarity that “International solidarity is not an act of charity: It is an act of unity between allies fighting on different terrains toward the same objective. The foremost of these objectives is to aid the development of humanity to the highest level possible”
Dear Comrades, many of you might ask are there communists in South Africa and what is their ideology? We can indeed confirm that there are communists in South Africa under the stewardship of the vanguard of the South African working class, the South African Communist Party (SACP) which was formed in 1921 and there are young communists in South Africa, the youth-wing of the SACP, the advanced detachment of the South African working class youth, the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) which was formed in 1922. Our ideology is Marxism- Leninism. We can further confirm that our presence in this congress is a living proof that the vision of socialism ultimately communism is well and alive in South Africa.
We come here with a lot of curiosity to find out exactly on how you going to use this congress to position your organization for current and future class struggles for the benefit of the people of Portugal and possibly new world order.
We will be following with great interest your analyses and discussions on the role of the working class youth and its political organisation, the relationship of the anti-imperialist and democratic struggle with a socialist perspective, the question of political struggle and fight for working class power especially on the analysis, methods and strategy used by your mother body on contesting elections.
Dear Comrades, the timing of your Congress is very crucial as this year we honor the 100th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917 in Russia that left its mark on every corner of the planet for many decades. The Great October Socialist revolution demonstrated the working class’s potential and capacity to implement its historical mission as the only truly revolutionary class, to lead the first attempt to construct socialism-communism. At the same time, the Great October Socialist Revolution showed the irreplaceable role of the guiding force of the socialist revolution, the communist party, the enormous strength of proletarian internationalism.
Today, despite the developments since then, we are even more certain and categorical about the timeliness and necessity of socialism-communism
Dear comrades, at home this is also a very busy year in our political calendar, the South African Communist Party will be convening its 14th National Congress in July 2017, the African National Congress will convene its policy conference in July 2017 and later its National Congress December 2017. Both these congress are very critical and we are closely monitoring developments leading to these congresses.
We find ourselves in a period of sharpened class, race and gender contradictions in our country. These contradictions present challenges on our revolution, the people especially the youth in our country. These contradictions continue to reinforce what the advent of colonialism capitalism and apartheid in South Africa has subjected young people to adverse political, social, cultural and economic conditions which define their existence: capitalist exploitation, national oppression, gender oppression and patriarchy, alienation and ideological domination by the bourgeoisie (through culture, education, media and religion). These sharpened contradictions resulted to our worth noting scientific observation as the young communists that in our country, millions of young people are unemployed, and suffer from class inequalities, exploitation and poverty. This reflects a toxic interaction between the endemic crises of imperialism as the highest stage of capitalism and the persisting legacy of colonial and apartheid capitalism despite progress achieved since the 1994 democratic breakthrough. Many young people have no access to skills development opportunities, such as apprenticeship, learner ships, internships and experiential training, because our economy is dominated by private enterprises which have a single motive, Profit making”
This worth noting scientific observation places a burden and a responsibility to us to raise high the Red Flag and to be preoccupied on championing the needs, interests and the aspiration of the young people in the interests of the class as we wage the struggle against capitalism. We are fully aware that the circumstances of young people are shaped and formed by challenges prevalent from previous generations: past generations had to defeat apartheid; today’s generations have to build a new South Africa, deepen and defend the National Democratic Revolution, struggle for, build and achieve socialism; and to take forward the struggle against gender oppression and for the transformation of gender relations. Today’s youth is a generation that is starting to work under the new conditions of constructing a post-apartheid South Africa whereas past generations worked under the old order. Lenin puts it this way ‘The generation of people who are now at fifty cannot expect to see a communist society. This generation will gone before then. But the generation of those who are now fifteen will see a communist society, and will itself build this society.’, hence our strategic slogan : Socialism in our lifetime, is ever relevant as socialism is a must and a solution on the challenges facing youth people and South African people in general.
Dear Comrades,
In our last 7th Plenary Session of the 4th National Congress National Committee, we have declared 2017 as a Year of Fidel Castro. We made this declaration as part of appreciating the role played by Fidel Castro in the struggle for emancipation of humanity across the world, the acknowledgement of the Cuban revolution and to further appreciate international solidarity as an integral part of the struggle for the new world order. Revolution in our lifetime is our daily commitment to the struggle for socialism and ultimately communism. Cde Fidel Castro speaks about revolution what does it means says. “Revolution means to have a sense of history, it is changing everything that must be changed , it is full of equality and freedom, it is being treated and treating others like human beings, it is achieving emancipation by ourselves and through our own efforts, it is challenging powerful dominated forces from within and without the social and national milieu, it is defending the values in which we believe at the cost of any sacrifice, it is modesty, selflessness, altruism, solidarity,nand heroism, it is fighting with courage, intelligence and realism, it is never lying or violating ethical principles, it is a profound conviction that there is no power in the world that can crush the power of truth and ideas”. Revolution means unity. Inscription at the place of internment of Castro’s remains in Santiago de Cuba.
As we declared 2017 as the year of Fidel Castro, we commit to be firm in our ideals and convictions, willing to serve the people, diligent in work, ready to take on responsibilities, honest and upright.
To be firm on our ideals and convictions means all our members must cherish the lofty ideas of socialism, sincerely believe in Marxism-Leninism , strive ceaselessly in the struggle for socialism, and unswervingly defend the Party, defend YCLSA and uphold the basic theories, guideline, constitution program, and requirements of a YCLSA member.
To be willing to serve the people means all YCLSA Members, must act as servants of the people, be loyal to the people, and serve people wholeheartedly.
To be diligent in our work means all YCLSA Members must be dedicated, down-to-earth, realistic, take solid and tangible measures to make achievements that can prove their worth in practice, survive the scrutiny of the people and stand the test of time.
To be ready to take responsibilities means all YCLSA members must adhere to principles with a responsible attitude, and have the courage to take resolute actions in the face of major issues of principle, to tackle difficulties head-on in the face of conflicts, to step forward in the face of crises, to admit their share of mistake and to resolutely fight against misconduct.
To be honest and upright means all YCLSA Members must adopt a cautious attitude towards the exercise of power by holding it in respect and keeping it under control in a bid to sustain their political life, and make constant efforts to maintain their political integrity against corruption.
We wish you every success with the work of your congress and we looking forward to further developments of our links, friendship and the cooperation of our organizations within the framework of bilateral and multilateral relations.
Long live the undying spirit of Cde Fidel Castro Long Live!
Forward with Socialism forward!
Long Live international Solidarity!
Down with the Capitalism Down!
Long Live JCP, Long Live PCP and Long Live JCP 11th Congress!
