Good day Cdes These inner-party contradictions typify quite inadvertently the eclectic nature PAC has become.At the same time it qualifies for a much needed spirit of debate for we sometimes need to remind ourselves who we are and what PAC means when asserting "socialist in content".I do recall that Cde Ndebele once raised this debate on facebook and a series of comments (from PAC members by the way) ensued crushing him on being a communist,something that the founders of this movement bitterly opposed.Cde Ndebele observed (quite inteligently) that there was a lot of inaccuracy in interpreting the Sobukwe's and ilk's hostility to communism,for it was not so much of Communism that they were against but imposters masquarading as communists,I draw your attention to Sobukwe's familiar statement "We don't have Communists in South Africa,we've got quacks!" Sobukwe can also be quoted on an interview with Gail Gerhart saying "What we are fighting for is similar to what the Communists are fighting for,we are pro poor,they are pro poor,we hate exploitation and imperialism,they hate exploitation and imperialism!"(not quoted verbatim).Benjamin Progrund also laments in "How Can Man Die Better" is that the irony a charge against most PAC members "Supression of Communism Act" is that "these were men and women who loathed Communism" One of the APLAMVA Cdes was on record at the 1st of 2 memorial services for the late Joe Mkhwanazi saying "uBab'uMkhwanazi despised being called 'comrade' because yinto yamaKomanisi leyo"(it's a Communist practice/habit).In the late 70s the majority of the PAC rank and file rebuffed the "controversial" document "The New Road to Revolution" (drafted by Cde Ntantala and others) on the basis that it seeked to turn PAC into a Communist Party. Cde Ndebele is not found wanting in his observation,but what perhaps is true is that there is a long history of this kind of debate within the movement,and I don't recall to date that there is something on record which says PAC is indeed a Communist movement.However we need to scrutinise fundamental differences if any between socialism and communism for these have 'now asserted themselves' as the other.Someone, in the wake of this debate, once referred me to "Pan Africanism or Communism" by George Padmore. Regards, Mawethu
________________________________ From: linda ndebele <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 12:30 PM Subject: Re: [PAYCO] Hostile attitude towards socialism/communism is enchored on sheer ignorance! Cde Vusi & Phanyeko, The vicious attacks directed to those of us who are marxist-leninist places a challenge on us to educate party members on socialism/ communism. Exchanging insults with them will not help our cause rather we should engage them, expose their ignorance and assist them by imparting necessary knowledge and exchanging marxist-leninist material with them. The attack on PAC members who believe in communism/ scientific socialism is unfounded. These attacks found root because those of us who are socialist/ communist did not challenge these misconceptions collectively precisely because we are fragmented. We have an obligation to protect the heart and soul of our movement from petty capitalist. We should intervene and assist unsuspecting members who have been made to believe that Pan Africanism is anti-communism/ scientific socialism. We should distribute books, articles and quotes by marxist leninist. We should lead debates in the party and establish book and debating clubs. That's what Africanist did in the ANC to counter liberal tendencies in the 50's. PAC and PASMA constitutions are unequivocal that they identify with scientific socialism. Those who believe in free market system and other liberal ideologies must find home elsewhere not in PAC, PAYCO and PASMA. Yours for a classless society. Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sender: [email protected] Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2013 22:13:38 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PAYCO] Hostile attitude towards socialism/communism is enchored on sheer ignorance! I'm touched by this Post especially from Cde Linda, I think its high time in the next coming conference of payco to rubber stamp our position and having a solid way forward... Yours for a socialist state Azania Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -----Original Message----- From: "linda ndebele" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2013 13:47:20 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [PAYCO] Hostile attitude towards socialism/communism is enchored on sheer ignorance! Revolutionary greetings! When we took over office in PAYCO we resolved to revitalise the socialist aspects of the PAC that had been tarnished completely. A mere mention of socialism or marxist leninism invited an avalanche of hostile attack from PAC members. Those who purported to be socialist were described as communist, anti-pan africanism and other such labels. PAC leadership also did not project PAC as a socialist party which allowed the SACP to dominate and monopolize the Left. We have had an opportunity to engage with highly placed and respected party leaders who proudly proclaim to be anti-socialism and defend free market system. This if tolerated will make PAC not different from the ANC. PAC founding fathers defined PAC as a socialist party and entrenched it in its founding documents and aims and objectives. PAC cannot claim to be a broad church as its founding fathers chose the class they pursue its interest. The real point is that my analysis of those Africanist who are opposed to socialism or marxist leninism, the majority of them have no idea as to what animal is it. A majority base their arguments on hearsays without reading a single book by Marx, Angels, Lenin, Trosky, Nkrumah, Chairman Mao to name but a few. My question to Africanist is , are we really educated on Communism/ socialism? Have we read comprehensively the written material on marxist leninism? Can we theoretically compete with the SACP psdeo-communist on socialism and its implementation? I am afraid comrades I hold a view that "some amongst us" reject socialism/communism without substance. In my view you cannot claim to be politically conscious having not explored the writings of Marx, angels, lenin, Mao, Nkrumah, Fanon to name but a few. PAC Disciplinary Code defines ignorance as an offense. It further emphasizes reading, reading and reading. It seems in our party ignorance is now tolerated which is an act that is in conflict with PAC Disciplinary Code. Yours for a classless society. Kwame Ndebele Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! -- Sending your posting to [email protected] Unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] You can also visit http://groups.google.com/group/payco Visit our website at www.mayihlome.wordpress.com -- Sending your posting to [email protected] Unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] You can also visit http://groups.google.com/group/payco Visit our website at www.mayihlome.wordpress.com -- Sending your posting to [email protected] Unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] You can also visit http://groups.google.com/group/payco Visit our website at www.mayihlome.wordpress.com -- Sending your posting to [email protected] Unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] You can also visit http://groups.google.com/group/payco Visit our website at www.mayihlome.wordpress.com
