It was no surprise therefore when the SACP decided to avail some of its members and leaders to serve in parliament and other legislative bodies under the leadership of the ANC.
"Similarly, shouldn't the party structure itself, in keeping with its relation to state power, in the same way many communist parties in the world are structured?," he asked delegates at the 3rd National Congress of the Young Communist League (YCL) at the University of the North West in Mafikeng.
Motlanthe said the SACP as well as the YCL needed to draw experience from numerous communist parties, such as the Vietnamese and Chinese Communist Parties.
The ANC had learnt a great deal from the SACP. This included appropriating useful tools of analysis traditionally employed by communists.
"In turn, the ANC has been a good student, employing these tools of analysis to forge a way forward in the course of the struggle," the deputy president said.
"In fact, this was a mutually enriching relationship, which also strengthened the SACP in many important respects," he said.
Social formations
Motlanthe said the YCL needed to fully launch itself into the everyday life of society in South Africa by preoccupying itself with improving the education and health system.
"The YCL has the duty to contribute to the current efforts of fighting poverty, unemployment, crime and other residual social ills inherited from our past.
"With political education offering a deeper understanding of the nature of our problems and a practical involvement in our daily struggle for a better life, the YCL will necessarily move on to a qualitatively higher trajectory of existence," he said.
Once the league was well equipped it would play a more meaningful role in all aspects of political and social life in South Africa.
"This will contribute to the unity of our own movement and South Africans in general," the deputy president said.
One way of contributing to this goal was to disperse YCL members among social formations, such as civil society, legislatures and other institutions.
"YCL members joining other social organisations as individuals without any concealed motive to take them or their leadership over would help spread the ideas and consolidate common consciousness in society."
As a youth formation in the Mass Democratic Movement, the YCL continued to play an active role in the political life of the country, Motlanthe said.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Parties-focus-on-power-Motlanthe-20101210