South African Communist Party
Elizabeth Mailhot
Formation and Two Influential Events
The SACP, originally called the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA), was formed in 1921 in Cape Town. The Bolshevik Revolution, which occurred in Russia in 1917, influenced the CPSA because it inspired revolutionaries to form Marxist parties. The development of the South African labour movement after World War I also influenced the CPSA. At this time, White workers were in conflict with the mining houses because mining magnates considered lowering wages of White workers and hiring Blacks in higher positions. These actions were considered in order to cut costs due to the low price of gold. White workers were angry about this and went on strikes. This event was significant to the CPSA because the party decided to support the White protesters. This was ironic because the communist party was working with a labor movement that was openly racist and only wanted White workers to have high positions. White workers even attacked innocent Blacks in protest. In March 1922, the Rand Rebellion, also called the Rand Revolt, occurred. The revolt was a climax during this time because 22,000 White workers rose up with weapons against the state, and Smuts forcibly and bloodily ended the revolt.
Rising of the Labor Party
Working with the ANC
Government Opposition towards Communism
Changes in the CPSA
Involvement with other Groups
Freedom Charter
Treason Trial
Influence on the MK
Rivonia Trial
More Recent History
URL of the SACP's Current Website: http://www.sacp.org.za/index.php
Significance to the Anti-Apartheid Movement
Works Cited
"About the SACP." South African Communist Party. N.p., 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
O’Malley, Padraig. "Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA)/South African Communist Party (SACP)." O’Malley The Heart of Hope. Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
Rogers, M. and Peter Clinton. Oxford IB Diploma Programme: Rights and Protest. Oxford: Oxford. 2015.
"The Freedom Charter." African National Congress. N.p., 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
The Freedom Charter. Digital image. Cries Against Apartheid. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
Williams, Graeme. Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo at South African
Communist Party rally. Digital image. Africa Media Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.