Friends and Interests

This evening at 17h00 the Communist University convenes at the Women’s Jail, 1 Kotze Street, Constitution Hill, to discuss “What future for the family” by Jennie Bristow. Next week, unless otherwise advised, we will discuss “The working class as the leading motive force for developmental local government” by SACP GS Dr Blade Nzimande, from Umsebenzi Online. See link below. A letter of from Sandile Memela (of Vorna Valley) went out on Wednesday. It lashed the commentariat of “independent experts” very eloquently. A reader has pointed out that Memela, once a free spirit, nowadays takes the government’s shilling at the Department of Arts and Culture. He didn’t “declare his interest”. Now it is declared. The Jacob Zuma trial reconvened briefly yesterday. The prosecution rested its case without calling the remaining 28 of its listed 35 witnesses. The defense gave notice that it will ask for police evidence to be ruled inadmissible when the court sits again on Monday, and subsequent to that will ask for a summary acquittal with all costs to be born by the state. Monday and Tuesday may be taken up with presentation and argument around this application. The defense expects an acquittal by Wednesday. The Tenth Trade Union International of Public and Allied Employees took place in Johannesburg in recent days, without any fanfare. It was a world congress and produced considerable documentation, which is archived in downloadable form on the web site (linked below). It will not be sent as attachments because it is too much. Note that the resolutions include a good one on the Cuban Five, a long one on Swaziland, and a pro-Mugabe one on Zimbabwe. It is good to read this material as a case study of the transactions of an international trade union gathering. South Africa’s Abdul Minty, once the Honorary Secretary of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement, is a world expert on nuclear matters. In a short article the Business Day reports his warning that the US stance on Iran is deceptive and that any military action against Iran would be disastrous. This article (linked below) is coupled with a welcome Business Day report that the Basque ETA organisation has declared a unilateral permanent cease-fire in its dispute with the Spanish government. Full particulars on the history behind the crazy US threats on Iran can be found on Counterpunch here. Another good article on the subject, from Antiwar.com, is here. The Transnet dispute is a major front for the South African working class in its struggle against privitisation. The linked report below gives some detail on the current situation there. And in the Business Report, the ever-watchful Ann Crotty exposes the shallow excises give for “import-parity pricing” whereby South African manufacturers get to charge higher prices on the grounds that the import price is higher than the local. Crazy logic. See link. Getting back to “declaration of interests”, the linked SACP statement concerns government officials and representatives who hold business interests on the side, secretly or otherwise. On Thursday, March 30th, there will be a “Conversation” with George Bizos at Constitution Hill at 18h30. Links: Umsebenzi Online, V5-53, working class leading force for local development (2492 words) X Congress of TUI of Public and Allied Employees, Jhb (archive) Minty on Iran, plus Basque ETA cease-fire, Business Day (640 words) Transnet unions claim first round, Faniso, Business Report (514 words) Import-parity pricing not a global practice, Crotty, B Report (464 words) SACP on Auditor General on declaration of business interests (318 words)