Socialists Targetted in South Africa for supporting mineworkers strike

[Jolly Red Giant]

There has been a dangerous and sinister turn to events in South Africa where 100,000 mine workers remain on strike in the Rustenberg region of South Africa.

Members of the Democratic Socialist Movement (sister party of the Socialist Party) have been playing a very important role in assisting workers organising the strike, winning the argument with workers that worker-on-worker violence does not serve any purpose except the interest of the minow owners and the government and assisting in the development of a region wide body of independent workers committess to organise the strike action and support for the families of striking workers.

In a very sinister and dangerous change in direction by the South African establishment, the discredited leadership of the so-called National Union of Mineworkers, COSATU and the South African Communist Party (part of the triumpherate of power involving the ANC, the SACP and COSATU) have engaged in a potentially lethal witchhunt against members of the Democratic Socialist Movement.

On Friday, 18th October, National Union of Mineworkers leadership on SAFM’s morning show claimed that the DSM is responsible for the murder of their shop stewards. This is an utterly reprehensive allegation that potentially threatens the lives of members of the DSM.

On Saturday 20th October Congress of South African Trade Unions General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, at a press conference, claimed that the Democratic Socialist Movement instigated the stoning of his car at the Orkney Mine in Klerksdorp on Friday 19th October 2012. These allegations are false, unsubstantiated and irresponsible.

Over the following days allegations by the SACP-linked Communist University internet forum (CU), claimed that the DSM is linked to the apartheid killers that carried out the Boipatong massacre, and the Alexandra and KwaZulu-Natal atrocities during the struggle against apartheid. Again this is an utterly reprehensible claim that in the context of South African Society potentially threatens the lives of members of the DSM

More sinister is the fact that during the week the Communist University published the names, telephone numbers, employment details and photographs of DSM members – amounting to a hit list and an invitation to assassinate DSM members. The DSM has demanded that Cosatu, NUM and the SACP condemn this reckless endangerment of DSM members’ lives and the personal information of these individuals be removed from the internet.

In a statement issued following a meeting of its Executive Committee on Friday 26th October the Democratic Socialist Movement stated -

The DSM has a proud record on the question of violence in the working class struggle in general and the miners’ strike in particular. Whilst we defend the right to self defence, we are firmly opposed to worker-on -worker violence. In line with international trade union tradition, we support efforts to prevent the bosses from breaking strikes through the use of scabs. But we advocate the force of argument, not the argument of force; persuasion and appeals to class solidarity rather than violence. In the face of the popular view that strike breakers should be dealt with by force up to and including putting them to death, we have stood firm putting forward what was at first a minority opinion and won over the majority of workers to our point of view.

What we plead guilty to is standing side-by-side with our class brothers and sisters, the mineworkers, in their struggle against slavery by the most rapacious section of the capitalist class in SA. We have offered guidance, promoted unity in action and sought solidarity in SA and internationally for the mineworkers. We make no apology for this. It is the fact that our analysis correspond to reality and the workers’ own conclusions and that our tactics have united them and sustained the struggle for as long as it has endured, that is the reason that the DSM is so popular and is so sought after on the mines. It is the role the NUM and Cosatu should have played.

The Cosatu/NUM leaders are the architects of their own demise. As the Marikana Commission of inquiry’s latest evidence confirms, the NUM leadership stood on the other side of the class barriers, actively colluded with the mining bosses, denouncing the demands and the actions of their own members, and called for the ANC to help end the strike and for the police to smash it.

It is an absolute disgrace that the NUM/Cosatu/SACP leaders are regurgitating the anti-working class prejudices of the upper class social circles they inhabit. They have drenched the mineworkers under a constant toxic torrent of abuse from the beginning. They denounced the strike as criminal; accused the workers of being under the influence of sangomas; of being led, in the words of SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin, by “Pondoland vigilante mafias”; of being under the influence of AMCU which in turn was allegedly created by the Chamber of Mines, and of being fooled by the ANC Youth League and Julius Malema. The DSM “counter-revolutionaries” are only but the latest addition to the NUM, the SACP and Cosatu’s list of scapegoats. It is this that has turned the mineworkers against the NUM and Cosatu.

I do not have a direct link to this information - it has come to me through contacts - I will post a link as soon as it becomes available.

[toxic avenger]

The ANC have proved George Orwell right so emphatically that one might be forgiven for thinking they used Animal Farm as a template...

[fluffybiscuits]

Very serious allegations against the DSM. Its hard to believe for one moment that the DSM would be involved in such activities and its fairly apparent that the violence is a form of divide and conquer, tried and tested tactic that suits the establishment.

I dunno if this is the forum you are talking about JRG?

http://www.topix.com/forum/world-pol...ommunist-party

[Jolly Red Giant]

Very serious allegations against the DSM. Its hard to believe for one moment that the DSM would be involved in such activities and its fairly apparent that the violence is a form of divide and conquer, tried and tested tactic that suits the establishment.

I dunno if this is the forum you are talking about JRG?

http://www.topix.com/forum/world-pol...ommunist-party

Not the forum - the foum is on the Communist University website and you need access to view it.

[fluffybiscuits]

http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/

Where abouts? Any links welcome want to have a gander...

[Jolly Red Giant]

http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/

Where abouts? Any links welcome want to have a gander...

Its an internal forum - you have to be signed up to the Communist Uni to view it.

[No.11]

SA: Statement by the Democratic Socialist Movement Executive Committee, response to allegations of violence (26/10/2012)

[Jolly Red Giant]

Collusion between Lonmin, the NUM and the ANC over the Marikana massacre

24 hours before the massacre a series of emails were sent between Lonmin board member, Cyril Ramaphosa, the NUM and the ANC planning 'action' against the 'criminals'.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, said: "This was on 15 August at 2.58pm, exactly 24 hours before the people were mowed down on that mountain. We have emails that were being exchanged between Lonmin management, government ministers [of mineral resources and the police] and at the centre is a gentleman called Cyril Ramaphosa."

"It is clear Ramaphosa was directly involved by advising what was to be done to address these 'dastardly criminal actions', which he says must be characterised as such and dealt with effectively." The emails showed a direct "toxic collusion" between Ramaphosa, Lonmin, mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu's department, the police ministry and state security agencies, he added, describing the shootings as "premeditated murder of defenceless people".

Ramaphosa warned the police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, to come down hard on the strikers, and was lobbied by Lonmin management to "influence" Shabangu and advised her that "silence and inaction" on the events was "bad for her and government", it was claimed.

An email from Ramaphosa with the subject heading "Security Situation" reads: "You are absolutely correct in insisting that the minister [Shabangu] and indeed all government officials need to understand that we are essentially dealing with a criminal act. I have said as much to the minister of safety and security."

In another email, Ramaphosa highlights his "interaction with some of the roleplayers", including a proposed conversation with the ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, to suggest that the party intervene. There was also a proposed meeting with Shabangu in Cape Town to discuss "what she needs to do".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...nc-elder-baron

[Jolly Red Giant]

On Sunday evening posters appeared in the townships that claimed the 12000 AmPlats workers who were 'sacked' last week had come to an agreement with AmPlats to return to work. No such agreement had been made.

The Strike committee held an emergency meeting on Saturday night outside Jabula village during which the police attacked with rubber bullets, dispersing the meeting and arresting 14 people. The police then proceeded to ransack dozens of miners shacks in the village.

In response a protest march took place on Sunday morning with about 6000 workers met at the Bathopele shaft. Another large group of miners were attacked and dispersed by police using tear gas, rubbeer bullets and stun grenades on the way to the protest.

As they were leaving the protest, the workers were confronted with a massive police blockade of about 40 police cars. The police shot heavily at them, and blasted their vehicles with live ammunition. They shot and wounded a worker in the legs. Most workers dispersed and fled as they were under heavy fire.

It is clear that the posters and statements of an agreement with the mining company was a ruse to get the miners to protest at the mine in order to again facilitate the police in opening fire on the mine workers in an attempt to break the strike. Once again the mine companies, the ANC, the NUM, the SACP and the police are working hand-in-hand to spill the blood of workers on the ground.

This act, as with all the others should be condemned.

[C. Flower]

On Sunday evening posters appeared in the townships that claimed the 12000 AmPlats workers who were 'sacked' last week had come to an agreement with AmPlats to return to work. No such agreement had been made.

The Strike committee held an emergency meeting on Saturday night outside Jabula village during which the police attacked with rubber bullets, dispersing the meeting and arresting 14 people. The police then proceeded to ransack dozens of miners shacks in the village.

In response a protest march took place on Sunday morning with about 6000 workers met at the Bathopele shaft. Another large group of miners were attacked and dispersed by police using tear gas, rubbeer bullets and stun grenades on the way to the protest.

As they were leaving the protest, the workers were confronted with a massive police blockade of about 40 police cars. The police shot heavily at them, and blasted their vehicles with live ammunition. They shot and wounded a worker in the legs. Most workers dispersed and fled as they were under heavy fire.

It is clear that the posters and statements of an agreement with the mining company was a ruse to get the miners to protest at the mine in order to again facilitate the police in opening fire on the mine workers in an attempt to break the strike. Once again the mine companies, the ANC, the NUM, the SACP and the police are working hand-in-hand to spill the blood of workers on the ground.

This act, as with all the others should be condemned.

How should they respond ? Should they not organise workers' defence and intelligence ?

[C. Flower]

The ANC have proved George Orwell right so emphatically that one might be forgiven for thinking they used Animal Farm as a template...

Was there ever a revolution or national liberation movement that didn't move forward initially before to some degree retreating? That is not a reason to stay in the Stone Age.

[Jolly Red Giant]

How should they respond ? Should they not organise workers' defence and intelligence ?

They are organising workers defence committees - most of the shanty towns are now patrolled by defence committees under the control of the independent Strike Coordinating Committees.

However, ranged against the workers in Rustenburg are the entire resources of the state - from the media, to the police, to the ANC government, to the Chambers of Commerce, to the Mine owners, to COSATU and the NUM , to the SACP. Workers defence committees can only do so much - the key to defeating these attacks is the organisation and coordination of the working class in the form of a general strike to bring down the ANC government. That is what the National Strike Coordinating Committee is working towards and the DSM is assisting them in this work.

http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/5996

[C. Flower]

They are organising workers defence committees - most of the shanty towns are now patrolled by defence committees under the control of the independent Strike Coordinating Committees.

However, ranged against the workers in Rustenburg are the entire resources of the state - from the media, to the police, to the ANC government, to the Chambers of Commerce, to the Mine owners, to COSATU and the NUM , to the SACP. Workers defence committees can only do so much - the key to defeating these attacks is the organisation and coordination of the working class in the form of a general strike to bring down the ANC government. That is what the National Strike Coordinating Committee is working towards and the DSM is assisting them in this work.

http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/5996

I see no reason why the two - the workers' defence committees and the Strike Committee - shouldn't work in tandem.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Was there ever a revolution or national liberation movement that didn't move forward initially before to some degree retreating? That is not a reason to stay in the Stone Age.

Part of the reason for the open hostility of the SACP towards the DSM for the past three decades was because of the SACP adopting the classic Stalinist line of the stages theory. The SACP had a policy that what was necessary was the establishment of a stable bourgeois democracy where private enterprise could flourish - then, at some time in the future, the country would be ready for socialism. The DSM (and its forerunner the Marxist Workers Tendency) argued that it would be impossible to establish a stable bourgeois democracy and that the overthrow of apartheid without the development of a socialist revolution would lead to rampant corruption and cronyism and the lot of the working class would not alter. The DSM has been proved absolutely correct. The SACP had focussed political attacks on the DSM since the early 1980s because the DSM attempted to politicise the workers movement by infusing socialist ideas into the struggle. Now that it is part of the triumvirate in power with the ANC and COSATU, the SACP have redoubled their attacks on the DSM and making all kinds of accusations including among other things involvement in police massacres during apartheid and drawing up a hitlist of DSM members for assassination.

[Jolly Red Giant]

I see no reason why the two - the workers' defence committees and the Strike Committee - shouldn't work in tandem.

Try reading what I wrote CF - they are working in tandem the workers defence committees and community defence committees are under the direction of the independent strike committees .