Sic Transit

Today is the day of the judgement in Jacob Zuma’s trial for alleged rape, two months and two days since it started on March 6th. The judgement will be broadcast on radio and television. It is scheduled to start at 09h00. Judge Willem van der Merwe is reported to have said that he will carry on through without a full lunch break and finish in six hours. Brendan Boyle’s article in yesterday’s Sunday Times comments on the new SACP document to be released later this week. See link below. The SACP’s full position will become clear when the document is released. Tony Hall is a very good journalist and an honourable struggle veteran. The message linked below is his latest to the DEBATE forum. This e-mail forum (also called a "listserve") has been run for many years by Patrick Bond, PHD (Economic Geography), presently Director of the Centre for Civil Society at KZN University in Durban (plus a few part-time jobs around the world). Tony Hall’s message exposes the bankruptcy of the “critical critics” and “Holy Family” of the DEBATE forum. Typically, nothing of what they see is good enough for them. And now, all of the things they have supported (APF, “social movements” and so on) have dwindled to nothing. What remains is petty bickering among fewer and fewer of the wishful thinkers and paper tigers of former times. So yesterday Patrick Bond wrote: “Does anyone have any suggestions, or indeed would anyone else like to take up the listserve management duties?” Sic transit gloria mundi. All things must pass. "What I find strange is that these employers are rejecting the CCMA's offer to resolve the dispute. How then are they hoping to resolve the strike other than through mediation and arbitration?" asks Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana (see linked document). Is it really so strange? It looks like a plain case of union-busting tactics (see link). The security-guard companies have worked to isolate and to destroy the union, SATAWU, that they consider communist and militant. Ex-trade-unionist Minister Mdladlana surely understands this much. He just can’t quite bring himself to say it out loud. Who is he afraid of? A few small-time reactionary employers in a backward industry? For shame! “Thaba Mufamadi, who had a colourful career as the Limpopo finance MEC” is collecting his chips. He is cashing out at the political casino and walking away hand in hand with Anglo-American’s Barry Davison. See link, with picture. Click on these links: SACP may stick oar into ANC succession race, Sunday Times (566 words) Tony Hall on the Debaters (683 words) Security employers dig in their heels, Irene Louw, City Press (553 words) Empowerment venture kicks off, Siyabulela Qoza, City Press (624 words)