A Movement on the Move

Announcements, linked to the archive at http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/: first, the National Union of Mineworkers had a Women’s Conference this week. Meanwhile the “Solidarity” organisation has been meeting US Republican politicians such as Newt Gingrich, and is condemned for racism by COSATU and the NUM. COSATU has taken a strong stand on the “REDS”. These are not communists but “Regional Electricity Distributors” that have been set up over the last few years as vehicles for the creeping privitisation of the electricity network (a network paid for by the South African people). SATAWU strikers are united in their dispute with Transnet over another, different bout of creeping privitisations. The SACP Press Conference on Sunday morning will cover the main points of the Central Committee’s deliberations yesterday and today (Saturday). The last of the five points listed deals partly with the Zuma affair and partly with the Alliance as a whole. People may like to try to guess what the press is going to pick up on from this list Other announcements, not archived separately: News from Swaziland is that Paul Boateng, High Commissioner of Britain to Pretoria and also to Mbabane, has called for the unbanning of political parties in Swaziland. Swaziland won freedom from British colonialism in 1968. Political parties were banned on April 12th, 1973. On the 33rd anniversary of that date there will be blockades of border crossings between SA and Swaziland in solidarity with the oppressed people of Swaziland. Is Paul Boateng serious? If so and the former colonial power really does want to take part in the campaign for people’s power in Swaziland at this late stage, then perhaps we can expect to see Boateng at the blockade? Unless he is afraid of losing his credentials (having presented them to the Swazi king the other day). If you want to subscribe to the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) Electronic Newsletter, go to: news-subscribe@tac.org.za (and respond to the confirmation email). Links: NUM Women's Conference, Lindiwe Hendricks to address (368 words) COSATU, Solidarity and their friends (250 words) COSATU demands immediate halt to electricity restructuring (345 words) Update on Eastern Cape and Transnet talks, SATAWU (192 words) SACP Press Conference following CC meet, 19 Feb 11h30 (157 words)