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Unpacking the Evolution of Our Revolutionary Alliance

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Unpacking the Evolution of Our Revolutionary Alliance POLITICS and socio-economic life in the country National AND CLASS STRUGGLES IN SOUTH AFRICA was based on race, class exploitation of black workers on the grounds of race and the triple oppression of women on © Shutterstock.com Unpacking the evolution the basis of race, class and gender.2 In the light of the inter-connectedness of national, class and gender-related of our revolutionary contradictions, organisations opposed to oppression needed a perspective alliance to guide their struggle to resolve the contradictions in society. This perspective was not a product of mere thumb-sucking; but originated from what Lenin referred to as an analysis of the concrete conditions in society, as well as from a theory of colonial revolution that was, in Lenin’s time, evolving in certain European countries and other parts of the world. Lenin and colonial revolution It was at the Second All-Russian Congress of Communist Organisations of the Eastern Peoples that Lenin expressed his innovative views about (what we can generally refer to as) the national content of class struggle. In particular, Lenin unequivocally stated that: The ANC’s relationship with the Communist …the socialist revolution in each country would be neither solely nor Party contributed to its development into a chiefly a struggle of the revolutionary proletariat against their respective liberation movement which attracted large bourgeoisie, but rather a struggle by all the imperialist oppressed colonies sections of the working class as well as the and countries against international imperialism3 Coloured and Indian communities. The Congress confirmed Lenin’s novel approach to the socialist revolution. In particular, it resolved that, By Thando Ntlemeza whilst the primary task of communists was to establish communist parties n one of his nineteenth century that in any revolutionary struggle in Eastern Europe and other colonial political letters Engels stated that: there should be room for tactical societies elsewhere in the world, I …I am sufficiently revolutionary compromises to pave the way for communist parties were expected to not to renounce absolutely a further revolutionary advance – a provide political support to the national combined actions with other parties theoretical perspective which must liberation movements in those countries in circumstances when they are more guide our analysis of the contradictions to defeat western imperialism.4 advantageous or less harmful to us1 and struggles in South Africa. However, Lenin was quick to concede With this statement, Engels was In 1910, the Dutch and British that solutions to the problems of colonial expressing a view to the effect that he descendants in South Africa entered revolution were not to be found in any did not have any problem with the into a governing arrangement communist literature.5 Communist Party forging alliances with premised on the political and social The Second Congress of the other organisations, as long as such subordination, exclusion and oppression Comintern held in Moscow and alliances would help to advance the of the people who were viewed and Petrograd in July 1920 deliberated revolution. Lenin took the issue further treated as foreigners in their own on matters related to the colonial by providing a scientific perspective to country. At the time, South Africa was revolution and adopted the thesis on justify the alliances between communist characterised by racial discrimination, the national and colonial questions. This parties and liberation movements. In class exploitation and patriarchal congress emphasised that communist particular, Lenin advocated an idea relations of power. Or, governance parties have to politically support Volume 66 / 2015 67 POLITICS national liberation movements, which attention to the embryonic national the Coloured and Indian communities are revolutionary6 and when exponents organisations among the natives, such into the liberation struggle. This was of these movements do not hinder as the African National Congress.” necessary to mobilise and unite all the work of educating and organising Deriving authority and mandate the oppressed black people as well as oppressed people.7 In characterising from this resolution, the Communist to consolidate a united voice against the Second Congress, commentators Party has made enormous contributions national oppression.17 The Communist expressed views to the effect that this to building the ANC into a revolutionary Party, as a vanguard party of the Congress was a witness to Lenin’s thesis liberation movement. This seems to working class, was central in mobilising on the national and colonial questions.8 have started as far back as 1927 with the working class. This led to the At the 6th Congress held in Moscow, ANC’s President Josiah Gumede and consolidation of many progressive in 1928, communists from all over the an ANC delegation visiting the Soviet trade unions into the Congress of the world seriously debated the colonial Union and Gumede’s subsequent South African Trade Union (Cosatu) situation in South Africa and then embracement of Communist Russia as a – a giant movement that was formed supported the establishment of the genuine friend of the oppressed masses. in 1985 and later became part of the “black republic” where all the racial Building the ANC involved theoretical alliance with the ANC and Communist groups would enjoy equality.9 This was and ideological development, locating Party. Later, it was the community justified on grounds that in South Africa: ANC among the ordinary masses and organisations in the black townships … the majority of the population positioning it to lead the revolution. which joined the alliance under the is black and so is the majority of Not so long ago, Kgalema Motlanthe banner of the South African National workers and peasants…Hence reminded us of the contribution of the Civic Organisation, commonly known the national question …lies at the Communist Party in equipping many as SANCO. foundation of the revolution…10 members and leaders of the ANC In 1981, at the 60th anniversary of Expressing his own views on the with the tools of analysis they needed the South African Communist Party, the resolution, Comrade Mzala (Jabulani to successfully execute the struggle late President Oliver Tambo skilfully Nxumalo) argued that the resolution for freedom and liberation in South distinguished our own revolutionary represented a rejection of the Communist Africa.15 All this was done to strengthen alliance from all other alliances. In Party’s long standing position that the the alliance because of a collective particular, Tambo reminded us that struggle was first and foremost a struggle belief that the alliance is an appropriate ours: for socialism.11 Comrade Mzala argued vehicle through which both the national … is not merely a paper alliance, that the resolution meant that the and class struggles could be successfully created at conference tables and struggle for national liberation would fought. formalised through the signing of have to precede the struggle for socialist The ANC and Communist Party built documents and representing only transformation in colonial societies such the alliance into a characteristic feature an agreement of leaders. ..., [but] a as South Africa.12 Mzala assumed that of the struggle before and after the living organism that has grown out class exploitation would persist after the 1994 elections. While the Communist of struggle... [which] we have built resolution of the national contradiction; Party made enormous contributions …out of our separate and common hence he cautioned against the classical and sacrifices in building ANC into a experiences.18 drive by elitist elements among the ‘real’ revolutionary movement and in In his view, this strategic alliance is oppressed people to gain power to developing its theoretical tools for social based on a broad agreement on the replace the oppressor in the exploitation analysis, the Communist Party learned strategic objective of our revolution to of the masses.13 many things from the ANC, which create and build the non-racial, non- have helped to develop its theoretical sexist, democratic and prosperous The evolution and nature of the and ideological skills and to ground its society envisaged in the Freedom relationship struggle in the realities of the country.16 Charter. In many of the countries that were Whereas the relationship between The existence of the alliance does not either embracing or sympathetic to the national and class struggles in South necessarily mean that the Communist communist paradigm, the relationship Africa dates back to the late 1920s, it Party will not lead the struggle for victory between national and class struggles was only after World War II that this of the socialist revolution.19 Neither found expression in various, but related relationship assumed organisational does it mean that the trade union ways. In our country, this relationship forms. Underlying it was a commitment movement will not lead the struggles is expressed through a relationship to act in unity to advance the struggle to of the workers for higher wages and between the ANC, the Communist liberate the oppressed people as well as better working conditions. In fact, each Party and the labour movement. It to achieve the objectives of the national component remains an independent was in 1929 that the Communist Party democratic revolution. part of the whole. This, in essence, decided to be in an alliance with the The ANC’s relationship
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