Biggest strike in South Africa's history now on

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Lazlo_Woodbine
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Joined: 26-09-03
Sep 16 2004 13:44
Biggest strike in South Africa's history now on

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3661560.stm

This seems to be an almost general strike -- the BBC say it is about pay. But the issues it raises are far deeper. The ANC is now running SA as a one-party state, having absorbed the old ruling Apartheid party and the old Communist Party while abandoning any gestures towards socialism; the new apartheid is based on wealth, and the old one based on colour has only been superficially altered by the rise of a few black business managers.

The unions and community groups are the only force that can challenge this; however, at least one TU and civics federation is closely linked to the ANC.

Is this a sign that this link will be aharder to maintain?

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JDMF
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Joined: 21-05-04
Sep 16 2004 15:09

Isn't cosatu is part of ANC in a weird way which was supposed to last only for a while after the apartheid was ended? This strike is encouraging because any crack in this relationship is welcome!

I don't think SACP (communist party) will split from ANC because they probably would be too small to stand on their own feet, but cosatu breaking away is very possible.

I'm always plugging this site when i have the smallest opportunity, so here it goes again:

http://www.zabalaza.net/

(SA anarchist group)

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WeTheYouth
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Joined: 16-10-03
Sep 16 2004 15:56

Its amazing how the freedom fighters become the oppressors in just over 10 years.

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Lazlo_Woodbine
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Sep 16 2004 19:47

It wasn't that quick, WTY mate. Whikle carrying out the 'liberation struggle' the ANC leadership were oppressing their own people at the same time, aplying stalinist discipline to activists, crushing anyone more left than them -- including trots and anarchists -- and sending their fighters off to Angola in order to win points from the USSR.

Not such a big leap to this, really. Remember mandela's a member of a royal family.

When a leader of the steel workers' union was in prison in SA following a massive strike supporters who toured the UK to raise support were told to shut up and not raise his profile -- because Mandela is the only face the SA struggle needs eek roll eyes