How Communists Have Shaped South Africa’s History Over 100 years

TOM LODGE|

UNTIL recently, just living to a 100 was an achievement worth celebrating for itself. In England new centenarians receive a special card from their queen.

Perhaps the same convention is maintained in South Africa and its Communist Party’s 300 000 or so members can expect a birthday message from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on their centenary.

Or maybe not.

In any case, they have more to celebrate than their party’s extreme old age, though under often tough conditions survival itself is an achievement. Next to the 109-year old governing African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party is the second oldest political organisation in Africa.

But, South African communists did more than outlive their rivals and opponents. They can make reasonable claims to have shaped South African history, as I’ve outlined in my book, Red Road to Freedom: A History of the South African Communist