According to the SACP, the "South African Communist Party (SACP) held its Annual Augmented Central Committee meeting over the weekend of 31 March to 2 April in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The meeting included expanded representation from SACP provinces and districts, as well as from the Young Communist League of South Africa."
On April 3 they issued a political statement flowing out of the meeting that, of course, looked at a number of domestic issues but also had a very comprehensive and excellent section related to international affairs.
It touches on the imperialist war machine, the upcoming BRICS summit, their rejection of the ICC's agenda, Cuba, Western Sahara and Swaziland. We republish that portion in full.
(For the full statement see: South African CP, SACP Augmented Central Committee Statement)
The new wars of imperialism
The SACP, along with communists the world over, has always called for an end to all wars and for peace in the world. Capitalism on the other hand is fuelled by profit logic. It does not want peace as it has proven to be more profitable during wars, particularly the industrial-military complex for stoking wars. Workers, the poor, and the vulnerable suffer the most in any war.
Recently, US-led western imperialism has become even more arrogant, aggressive, and greedy. This is leading to more conflicts around the world. Imperialists claim to support freedom and democracy, but they are constantly breaking international law and applying it selectively. They isolate and impose sanctions on those who resist their attempts to control the world, and even grossly impose their ideas as universal ideas and values of the entire world.
But increasingly these attempts are being resisted. The imperialist unipolar world is becoming a multipolar world through struggles of the working people across the world including, in imperialist capitals and by various states asserting their sovereignty and international order based on international law.
The SACP welcomes the call made by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping, for a Global Civilisation Initiative. The initiative calls for respect for the diversity of civilizations, upholding the common values of humanity in pursuing peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom, and promoting robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. To this extent, the SACP will soon hold a high-level bilateral engagement with the Communist Party of China.
BRICS Summit
The SACP welcomes the coming BRICS Summit which will be hosted by South Africa on 14 -- 22 August 2023.
The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have a combined 26.7% of the world's land surface, a total population of about 3.21 billion (41.5% of the global population, and a combined GDP of US$26.6 trillion (26.2% of the gross world product.
The existence of BRICS challenges the US and European-dominated unipolar world order.
The SACP looks forward to the presence of leaders such as Presidents, Xi Jinping, Lula da Silva, and Vladimir Putin. The SACP, together with other progressive organisations, will organise public events and programs in support of progressive ideas at the summit.
We will build people-to-people relationships and show solidarity with the countries building a new inclusive world order based on cooperation, multilateralism, and respect for each other’s sovereignty.
ICC Arrest Warrant for President Putin: Down with Judicial Imperialism
The SACP rejects the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in the Hague, Netherlands.
The arrest warrant, based on frivolous charges, comes on the eve of an important proposal for peace in Ukraine by President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Russia and the BRICS Summit due to be hosted by South Africa.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established to try individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
Unfortunately, imperialist powers continue to manipulate this multi-lateral institution and use it for judicial imperialism. Despite many calls, and ample evidence, the ICC has consistently refused to charge the likes of Netanyahu, Bush, Clinton, Blair, and Obama who have destroyed countries and killed thousands of people in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Yugoslavia, with the continued occupation of other countries territories like in Syria, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, of the Korean peninsula.
The SACP calls upon the South African government to ensure that President Putin attends the BRICS Summit and that he is afforded safe passage.
Furthermore, the SACP calls upon the government to act with speed in withdrawing from the ICC and repealing the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002.
Africa – Cuba Solidarity Conference
The SACP supports the convening of an Africa – Cuba Solidarity Conference later this year. This is an important initiative to bring progressive forces from across the African Continent together in united action in solidarity with the people of Cuba, a country that has given so much to the world and received less in return, a country that remains the torch-bearer of the future of humanity, as they resist imperialism and endure tremendous hardship due to a crippling and unjust economic blockade imposed by the USA for over 60 years.
Western Sahara
The SACP notes new aggressive military actions from Morocco into Western Sahara, further building a dividing (apartheid) wall of over 2000km.
We re-affirm our unflinching solidarity with the people of Western Sahara and Polisario Front and further express our gratitude to the people and government of Algeria for the continued principled support of the Saharawi people and their just struggle for national independence.
We call on the African Union and the United Nations to speed up the process toward the self-determination of the Saharawi people.
We further applaud the important political position of the South African government on their solidarity with the Western Sahara.
Situation in Swaziland
The SACP condemns the continued reign of terror against the people of Swaziland by a ruthless monarchy determined to resist a democratic transition at all costs. Of particular concern is the use of South African-based mercenaries to assassinate political opponents of the regime.
We condemn the brutal assassination of Advocate Thulani Maseko, the Chairperson of the Multiparty Stakeholder Forum negotiating the transitional conditions with SADC and the Swaziland government.
The SACP calls upon the South African government, SADC, and all progressive forces to show solidarity and provide appropriate support to the democratic forces in Swaziland.
The SACP wishes the Communist Party of Swaziland a successful 5th National Congress to be held on 6-9 April 2023.
Way forward
In the next few weeks and months, the SACP will work towards repositioning our liberation movement to turn the corner and accelerate the transformation of the material living conditions of the people. We need to immediately cushion the working-class and South Africans against hyperinflationary associated with high food prices, higher energy costs and thus increasing the cost of living for the working-class and poor.