The South African Communist Party (SACP) on Monday poured cold water on the government’s plans to embark on a national campaign against poverty, saying the move is not likely to benefit the poor.
”The SACP totally rejects the half-hearted measures adopted by the Cabinet lekgotla [meeting] in dealing with the dire situation faced by the overwhelming majority of the workers and poor,” the party said in a statement following its recent politburo (PB) meeting.
Berating the current government’s economic policies as anti-poor, the SACP called on the masses to take to the streets in protest against President Thabo Mbeki’s ”pro-capitalist” policies.
”The SACP calls upon the working class and the poor of our country to intensify the struggles against the neo-liberal policies of the Mbeki government, and calls upon the incoming African National Congress [ANC] administration after the 2009 elections to radically change the current economic growth path,” the party said.
It singled out Finance Minister Trevor Manuel for criticism, saying his refusal to accept pro-poor proposals, as suggested by the Congress of South African Trade Unions 9Cosatu), amounts to arrogance.
”The PB strongly condemns the arrogant attitude of the Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, towards Cosatu’s proposals, which the SACP fully subscribes to, to alleviate the plight of the overwhelming majority of our people,” the party said.
On ANC president Jacob Zuma’s current court battles, the SACP reiterated its view that the ANC leader is a victim of abuse of state power.
”The SACP remains convinced that the trial of comrade Zuma is not a criminal trial, but may as well constitute the first post-apartheid political trial, and that comrade Zuma can never have a fair trial given all what has happened over the last seven years.” — Sapa