South African Communist Party elects Solly Mapaila as new General Secretary

Solly Mapaila (left) with former General Secretary Blade Nzimande.

Solly Mapaila, who served as the second Deputy General Secretary from 2012 to 2017, replaces Blade Nzimande as the new General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) following a vote by the 15th National Congress. 

Mapaila has expressed vocal opposition against corruption and was among the leaders who called former South African President Jacob Zuma to resign before the end of his term. 

Nzimande, the Party's long-time General Secretary since 1998 was elected Chairperson. 

100th anniversary of the Young Communist League of South Africa

In a statement about the 100th anniversary of the Young Communist League of South Africa, the South African Communist Party (SACP) points out:

"The South African Communist Party (SACP) salutes the Young Communist League of South Africa on this important occasion, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Young Communist League of South Africa. Young Communist activity in our country, to be more specific in the centre of our economy, Johannesburg, dates back to before 1922. It dates back to 1921, just after the formation of the Communist Party. However, it was not until the 25th of May 1922 that the Party established the Young Communist League as a national youth organisation, as the scientific socialist voice of the South African youth.

South African Communist Party condemns racism and discrimination against Africans in Ukraine

In a statement, the South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns the disrespectful attitudes unleashed recently against African people by state actors and others in Ukraine. 

 

The statement also slams NATO aggressive expansion eastwards and calls all parties involved to work towards a peaceful resolution in the situation.  

 

More specifically, the statement of the SACP reads: 

On the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu

South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who died Sunday 26 December at the age of 90, was certainly an interesting and influential religious leader. 

He will be remembered for his active stance against the racist Apartheid, as well as for his reconciliatory role as the chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Nonetheless, despite his self-identification as a "socialist" and his criticism towards capitalism, the late Archbishop was a staunch anti-communist. In 1985 he stated that he hated Marxism-Leninism "with every fiber of his being", while he used to compare the socialist countries with far-right regimes, even Nazism! 

South African Communist Party celebrates its centenary

The weekend 30 July – 1 August 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding conference of the South African Communist Party (SACP) as the Communist Party of South Africa.

The SACP held a Special Centenary Central Committee meeting on Monday, 26 July 2021. The meeting discussed the current political situation in our country and the SACP Centenary Statement to be delivered by the Party General Secretary Dr Blade Nzimande on Sunday, 1 August 2021, during a hybrid rally scheduled to celebrate the 100th founding anniversary of the Party. 

South African trade union leader Khaya Xaba dies

The national spokesperson for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), Khaya Xaba, has died. The union said he had died in the early hours of Sunday morning due to "illness complications".

In a statement, the South African Communist Party (SACP) points out:

"The South African Communist Party (SACP) expresses its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of Comrade Khaya Xaba, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA). The National Spokesperson of Nehawu passed away in the early hours of Sunday, 13 June 2021 after experiencing complications from an illness. It was with great sadness that we learnt of Comrade Khaya’s untimely death.

South African Communist Party: Declaration of the 4th Special National Congress

Declaration of the 4th Special National Congress of the South African Communist Party (SACP)

We, delegates of the Fourth Special National Congress of the South African Communist Party, representing 319,000 Party members, carrying on our shoulders the aspirations and hopes of the working class of our country, convened from 9 to 12 December 2019 in Ekurhuleni. 

Eric "Stalin" Mtshali, South Africa's veteran communist and anti-apartheid symbol, dies

Comrade Eric "Stalin" Mtshali (84), a long standing SACP leader, a veteran of our struggle for complete liberation and social emancipation, has ceased to breathe in the early hours of Friday, 12 October 2018. The South African Communist Party announced this great loss with deep sorrow.

Comrade Blade Nzimande, SACP General Secretary conveys our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mtshali, our entire movement and the people of South Africa as a whole. The SACP will announce memorial and funeral service details in due course after consultation with the family and the Alliance.

SACP: The Significance of the 1917 October Revolution for South Africa (19th IMCWP)

Contribution of the South African Communist Party (SACP) at the 19th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, held in Leningrad (St.Peterburg), 2-4 November 2017.

The Significance of the Russian Revolution for South Africa