Time for a Plan

Johannesburg’s Communist University passed the psychologically-important 500-member barrier yesterday. That’s 403 on the Google group and 98 still on the old e-mail list. The CU needs help to keep on growing. Unfortunately, the Google “Help” has the following disappointing message in it: “The ‘Invite’ link is currently available to group owners or managers only, even if you select the ‘Anyone can invite’ option. We're working to make this link available to members of groups in the future.” So if you want your friends to be invited to subscribe and receive these messages, you should ask them to go to http://groups.google.com/group/Communist-University , click on “Join this space”, and follow the instructions. Please report any difficulties to dominic.tweedie@gmail.com . Asgisa We all want Asgisa to be a plan. The working class wants a plan for shared growth, and the bourgeoisie just wants growth (and to hell with the sharing part). In the story of the Emperor’s new clothes, everybody kept quiet until a little boy asked why the Emperor was walking around with nothing on. Has Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka got anything on, so to speak? Itumeleng Mahabane is only a “communications and investor relations consultant”, but he has asked the question out loud. Maybe he has done us all a favour. There is also a good article by Irene Louw today in the City Press Business section (“Cosatu blasts Asgisa proposals”) but it has not been posted on the Internet. See linked article. Peace It seems there are no organised efforts for South Africans to express their solidarity during the March 18th international day of action for peace on the third anniversary of the US/British/Danish invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq. At least we can pay attention to what the rest of the world is doing. See linked article from the USA. SAPS and the Kebble murder investigation The City Press report is that “The police are still ‘in the dark’ over who is responsible for Kebble's murder.” The rest of the report by Lukas Meyer is gossip about the late Kebble’s sex life, told to the media by police officers. The gossip has, as the article admits, “not been linked to the murder.” Then why are these police spreading it around? They can’t solve the case. Why not? But they feel at liberty to brief the press about the victim’s sex life, distressing the family, and destroying the credibility of the SAPS itself. Shame on these officers, and on Rapport and City Press, too. Why are the press not asking questions about this apology for an investigation, instead of conspiring with anonymous police officers to muddy the waters even more than before? The CU will not carry the article, or provide a link. SACP Lyndon Johnson used to say that Gerald Ford could not chew gum and walk at the same time. In other words if Ford wanted to chew his gum, he had to stop walking; or if he wanted to walk without falling over he would have to put the gum away and concentrate. The SACP is not like Gerald Ford. Yesterday morning there were four separate and successful SACP functions in Central Johannesburg alone. The Johannesburg Central BGM, the Johannesburg District bosberaad (in bushy Gandhi Square), the Gauteng Province Political School, and the Central Committee Press Conference all took place as planned. Many other SACP comrades were out on the same day, campaigning to get ANC candidates elected as councillors. Ours is the only political party in South Africa that can successfully do more than one thing at a time. Others don’t even try. See linked CC report. Links: Asgisa not plan but PR job, Itumeleng Mahabane, Sunday Times (847 words) End War, Impeach Bush, Ann Wright interview, Counterpunch (1711 words) SACP Statement on its CC Meeting held 17-18 February 2006 (982 words)