ABSTRACT
In 1927, trade unionist James La Guma spoke to Comintern officials in Moscow, leading to a year and a half of tactical disagreement between the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) and the leaders of the communist movement. In 1928, the Comintern, led by Max Petrovsky, forced the CPSA to accept the Native Republic Thesis, seeking self-determination for black Africans, as a goal. Prior to this point, the party had gradually responded to South African racial dynamics by calling for a unified worker’s movement, regardless of race. Following the Comintern’s intervention, the CPSA struggled to apply the new line as factional struggles led to dwindling membership. Although the Comintern and CPSA attempted to alter the Native Republic Thesis and merge it with calls for labour unity and stand for all peoples in the dominion, the party struggled to rebuild before its collapse in 1950. The CPSA is a clear example of the Comintern’s general priorities, particularly regarding racial equality, leading to intervention to correct the party’s platforms.
