On The Ball

Yesterday was a good example of the “strength in depth” of the working-class movement in South Africa. In the latest Umsebenzi Online SACP GS Dr Blade Nzimande responds to the enormous debate that has developed in the country following the publication of the SACP’s discussion document on “State Power”. On this occasion he writes to bring the discussion back to its constitutional purpose in terms of the 2005 SACP Special National Congress mandate. In the second article, YCL National Chairperson David Masondo deals neatly and brilliantly with the drab attempts at commandeering Karl Marx’s works in the cause of building capitalism, published in ANC Today. Then on the same day in the Johannesburg Star came the blockbusting article by COSATU GS Zwelinzima Vavi. The veteran liberal journalist Allister Sparks had in an earlier article made the mistake of suggesting that COSATU was somehow short of suggestions as to the way forward for the country. Cde Vavi has no difficulty making abundantly clear in straightforward style that COSATU has done its homework a million times better than Sparks. Also yesterday, in the Business Day, the well-known Professor Sipho Seepe, nobody’s lap-dog, looks at the question of whether the SABC’s efforts at limiting and controlling public discourse have succeeded, and notes that this is far from being the case. The working class has a tight defence and a good ability to counter-attack. The ANC also, as a whole, is still very much capable of principled contributions. Umsebenzi Online usually comes out every fortnight on a Wednesday and can be subscribed to. Unfortunately the subscription address is not easily found. If anybody has that address please let the CU know. In any case it will continue to be circulated and also linked from the home page of the Communist University web site. Click on these links: Umsebenzi Online, Vol 5, No. 59, 05 July 2006 (4108 words) Policies do not benefit the poor, Zwelinzima Vavi, The Star (1100 words) A thousand flowers in full bloom, Sipho Seepe, Business Day (1101 words)