Comment & Analysis

REVIEW: AUGUST 24 SHUTDOWN | Enormous Potential to Build a United Mass Movement Against the ANC Government and Capitalism Must be Seized

The growing demand for working class unity took a step forward on the August 24 National Shutdown. Throughout the day “working class unity” was the one rallying call guaranteed to receive thunderous applause and deafening cheers. But workers will have to take matters into their own hands to ensure that August 24 is cemented as the opening act of a campaign of rolling mass action and to consolidate the important steps toward unity that have been taken. [click to read more]

Comment & Analysis

SAFTU’S SECOND CONGRESS | Time for a Counter-Offensive Against Bosses and Government

Saftu’s second congress is taking place at a time of the sharpest escalation of the struggle between the classes in the post-apartheid era. … The necessity for unity in struggle has never been greater. A counter-offensive against this onslaught is absolutely imperative. The weaponry of the class enemy in government, state-owned enterprises and the private sector is trained on both organised workers’ wages and conditions, but also on the wider working class through savage social spending cuts. Preparation for a public sector general strike followed by a national general strike would … enable Saftu to claim the right to lead the working class like the early Cosatu. [click to read more]

Comment & Analysis

OPERATION DUDULA: CAPITALIST REACTION | How should we understand organised xenophobia and how should the working class respond?

The majority of people have reacted with horror at the violent death of Elvis Nyathi, stoned and burned to death by a murderous mob in Diepsloot. The MWP condemns this act of unbridled barbarism. We express our sympathy and solidarity with his family and indeed the entire Diepsloot community amongst whom he had lived in peace. [click to read more]

Comment & Analysis

WORKING CLASS SUMMIT DEBATES | What ‘type’ of party does the working class need?

We welcome the re-convening of the Working Class Summit on 23-24 October. The creation of a mass workers party will again be discussed. The Saftu federation is also debating this crucial issue. It remains a controversial topic for the leadership. The SRWP leadership is denouncing the idea of a “mass party” as counter-revolutionary, bourgeois and electoralist. They claim it has no basis in Marxism. Are any of these claims true? What is the way forward for the working class on the political front? [click to read more]

Comment & Analysis

SA AFTER THE RIOTS | What are the prospects for SA’s capitalist economy?

Mining profits are booming. June saw the biggest trade surplus on record. The banks are paying dividends to shareholders again and StatsSA reports that the economy is 11% larger than thought. But unemployment has reached yet another record high. Incomes are falling and poverty is increasing. As the ruling class desperately looks for signs of a post-Covid recovery the inequalities and contradictions of SA’s capitalist economy remain as deep as ever. The few ‘green shoots’ the bosses point to are utterly dependent on the current conjuncture in the world economy and in fact underline the sickness of SA capitalism. [click to read more]