Socialist Party of Azania

Infobox Political party
party_name = Socialist Party of Azania
party_
leader = Tiyani Lybon Mabasa
foundation = 21 March 1998
ideology = Socialism,
Black Consciousness
headquarters = 4-16 Renaissance Centre
Gandhi Square
Johannesburg 2000
President Lybon Mabasa:
tel. [phone]
Secretary-General Victor Moeleso:
tel. [phone]
Telefax:
[phone]
KwaZulu-Natal Office, Durban:
tel. [phone]
international = International Liaison Committee for a Workers' International
website = http://www.socialistpartyofazania.org/ (Under Construction)

The Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA) is a Trotskyist, pan-Africanist political party in South Africa. In the 2004 general elections, it received only 0.1% of the vote and no legislatorial seats at either the national and provincial levels.

History

The party was formed on March 21 1998. It was branched from the Azanian People's Organisation. The forefathers of the party were also founding members of the 1970s Black Consciousness Movement which was led by Steve Biko. Among noted members of SOPA are Professor Itumeleng Mosala, Dr. Gomoleo Mokae, Tiyani Lybon Mabasa, Musa Kunta Mohamed, Phineas Malapela, Patrick Mkhize, Console Tleane and the late Strini Moodley.

Ideology

SOPA's ideology is derived from both the Black Consciousness Movement and from Scientific Socialism (revolutionary Marxism). The goal of the party is the liberation of Azania (currently South Africa), so that the Black people within the country, who form the majority of the population, can have a larger voice in its political system. The party was created in response to the post-apartheid South African government which, the party believes, allows continuing cultural, social, and economic dominance by white South Africans. SOPA believes that this situation is perpetuated by "non-whites" in positions of power who are not attentive to the needs of fellow Blacks, and calls for political leadership which stands in solidarity with the Black population of the country.

It is SOPA's perspective that in order to liberate the poorest of the Black majority of population from despair, the working class must lead a proletarian revolution which will abolish the system based upon the private ownership of fundamental means of production, and result in the redistribution of land and nationalisation of basic industries. This plan would, according to theory, reverse the detrimental effects of the racist apartheid and capitalist system which they believe has placed the Black poor in desperate economic and social situations.

In 1998, leading SOPA figures participated in an international Tribunal on Africa, "to judge those responsible for the murderous course imposed on the workers and peoples of Africa." The Tribunal held that economic policies affecting Africa—as formulated by such international institutions as the World Bank, World Trade Organization, and International Monetary Fund, and the cooperation of what SOPA sees as neocolonial governments like that of the African National Congress—have led to disastrous living conditions for the majority of Africans. SOPA regards such policies and practices as imperialism on behalf of multinational corporations.

Electoral performance and political affiliation

The current president of SOPA is Lybon Masaba. In the 2004 elections, SOPA received 0.1% of the vote. The party is affiliated with the International Liaison Committee for a Workers' International. Although party members include socialists of different stripes, some of its most influential members are Trotskyists, and they comprise the Azanian Section of the reproclaimed Fourth International.

External links

* [http://www.socialistpartyofazania.org Official site] (under construction)
* [http://www.saweb.co.za/election/parties/sopa/sopames.html From the President of SOPA]
* [http://www.owcinfo.org/ILC/South_Africa/Election_maniestof_SOPA.html 2004 Election Manifesto of the Socialist Party of Azania]
* [http://www.owcinfo.org/africa/index.html Tribunal on Africa]
* [http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=2-7-12_2000023 "Cosatu must back land demands", South African Press Association (SAPA), 17 Sept.2006]
* [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=6&art_id=vn20060913000617662C990666 "Death of Steve Biko remembered 29 years on", Pretoria News, 13 Sept. 2006]
* [http://www.sowetan.co.za/szones/sowetanNEW/column/column1150348486.asp "Awards should reflect myriad contributions to the struggle", The Sowetan, 15 June 2006]
* [http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-1786_1871772 "Govt 'working for white bosses'", SAPA, 29 Jan. 2006]
* [http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=5035 Interview with Lybon Mabasa, 10 Nov. 2004, KPFA-FM (Berkeley, California)]
* [http://www.sabcnews.co.za/politics/the_parties/0,2172,30833,00.html "SOPA renews unity call to PAC, AZAPO", SABC News, 23 Mar. 2002]
* [http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/04/06/southafrica/SOPA.HTM "Azanian Socialist Party plans to register", SAPA, 6 Apr. 1998]

ee also

*Black Consciousness Movement
*
*Reproclaimed Fourth International
*List of Trotskyist internationals