General Strike, State Power

The document known within the SACP as the “State Power” document was released publicly to the press yesterday by SACP GS Dr Blade Nzimande. The event was good-natured but also serious, as befits a new document of this stature. See the link below for the text, which can also be downloaded from that page in PDF format. This document must now be at the centre of political education activities. Umzebenzi Online this fortnight is on the General Strike which is the main business of the day today. It also includes the foreword of the State Power document. COSATU’s publication COSATU Weekly has put out a General Strike edition, linked below. The remarkable thing about this general strike is the way it has “snowballed” from a limited, sectoral concept up to a full-scale general strike for jobs and against poverty. Yesterday’s remark here about the Cape Town NGO called AIDC has drawn to the CU the old familiar cry: “Stalinist!” The first AIDC “Right-to-Work” e-mail is not to hand (technical problems) but a later one is available (see link). It is from AIDC’s Dr Peter Dwyer, in the listserv “DEBATE”. The main question is: How can you support a campaign while at the same time organising a rival one? COSATU has a Jobs and Poverty campaign, so AIDC, denouncing the leadership of COSATU and the ANC, starts a competing one called by an old familiar name: “Right to Work”. And if one then points out a difficulty in this contradiction, why does one thereby become a “Stalinist”? These questions are specific to this moment, and they are also general questions. They have to do with spontaneity versus science, and with mass versus vanguard. They cannot be shooed away with epithets. Incidentally, the old “DEBATE” forum is in deep trouble. Following passionate enthusiasm for the accuser of Jacob Zuma (who lied, but has not yet apologised), and the consequent disappointment of her corner, an attempt at censorship has been launched and the “DEBATE” is now in a crisis. Past experience indicates that heavy moderation will never satisfy the fundamentalists, while the free spirits will leave. This forum (run by Professor Patrick Bond) has been going for many years. It will be missed. Click on these links: Bua Komanisi V5 No 1, Special Edition on State Power, no banner (20517 words) Umsebenzi Online, V5, No. 56, 17 May, General Strike, State Power (2030 words) COSATU Weekly General Strike Special 17 May 2006 (3933 words) AIDC Right to Work campaign anti ANC and COSATU (287 words)