The countrywide national strikes by the Congress of South African Unions (Cosatu) protesting against high cost of living was unfortunate to some extend.Cosatu was successful in convincing thousands of workers to down tools in the month of August in defiance to what they say was the governmen't fault that Eskom had plugged the country into darkness, that the prices of food and petrol were high; and that the interest rates and high electricity increases were fixed by the government and Eskom.
While Cosatu could count its successes of bringing the country to a standstill - which was very costly for the country's economy during the prostests, and boasting that they had put pressure on the government to listen to its people; sadly enough all the marches were not intending at achieving these noble objectives.
The marches were a politically culculated move aimed at unsettling the government of President Thabo Mbeki. What characterised these marches more than anything else, from the speakers of Cosatu, SACP, ANYL, Young Communist League, SASCO and others was a fierce defence for the ANC President Jacob Zuma.
Zuma's backers believe that it is Mbeki and his government who are behind the move to prevent the ANC president from becoming the country's president.
During these marches again , the main focus was focused on throwing attacks at the NPA (Scorpions), the judges and a cry to put "hands off Zuma."
Once again, the workers were used as a political tool to win political battles.
Photo:
Miriam Mannak, M&G.
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1 comment:
Chief I do not agree with you. It is the Mbeki government that is responsible for the energy crisis. As for comrade JZ, the man has always had the interest of the poor at heart. So to mention his name when raising issues that he support is not wrong. As for the NPA the body has proven that it does not care about the poor as it gives deals to rich mostly white criminals leaving the poor to stay in jail because they cannot afford to pay a fine of R200 for urinating in public.
The government is benefiting from these monopolies made by the capitalists that are running the country. You need to ask your self one question, why the competition commission takes a while before acting on the issues that are affecting the poor. The recent investigation on Bank charges, when will they be concluded and be implemented.
I am to believe that the Mbeki government had no idea that we are paying too much bank fees or is it the same as Telkom.
Comrade you are forgetting that the organizations you mention are part and parcel of the struggle in South Africa. Do you want them to keep quite while the democracy is benefiting only the rich? So you are saying that the Mbeki and his intellectuals should be left alone to have robust debates and thought provoking ideas while the poor continue to suffer.
Chief if your capitalist ass did not know this, the price of cooking oil has risen by 14,5 % and no company here in the Republic is willing to give 10% so was the strike for nothing.
Fellow comrades are working for food like slaves in this democracy.
So if COSATU is throwing its wait around to prove its power by voicing the needs of the poor that is ok and good. It is better than Mbeki and his government who are globe trotting trying to make economic relations that do not benefit the poor
Phantsi nge capitalism Phantsi
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