Debate, Indaba, Crisis, War

The Communist University convenes this evening to discuss “Why Revolutionaries Need Marxism” (1976) by Dialego. Dialego was the nom-de-plume or nom-de-guerre of John Hoffman, and his four-part course (of which this is the first) was very popular with Umkhonto we Sizwe. The session will start as usual at 17h00 at the Women’s Jail, 1 Kotze Street, Constituion Hill. John Hoffman also happens to have made a study of the great English revolutionary writer Christopher Caudwell, who was killed fighting the Spanish fascists as a member of the International Brigade. Hoffman used to give classes based on Caudwell in the Marx Memorial Library in London. In our next week’s session (Friday September 15th) we will discuss Caudwell’s “study in bourgeois ethics”, called "Pacifism and Violence" (see the link below). COSATU GS Zwelinzima Vavi is never afraid to take things head on. Yesterday he delivered a speech on “the succession debate” at the HSRC in Pretoria. Click on the link below to read Cde Vavi’s direct and clear remarks. Good reports of the Jacob Zuma hearing, which is part of the same succession struggle, can be found at the Friends of Jacob Zuma web site, except that Judge Msimang’s verdict will be given on September 20, and not a month later as the site’s report has it at the moment. Perhaps they will correct the mistake. COSATU called some time ago for a “Soccer Indaba”. Now that some individuals from the football world have taken up the call, as well as the SACP, COSATU has returned to this matter. Of course you can't have an indaba all on your own. Yesterday the liberal Allister Spark’s article from Wednesday’s Star was mentioned here. Somebody asked for it, so it is now archived and linked below. When the liberals say the revolutionaries are violent, it only means that the liberals are threatening violence against the revolutionaries. It is the working class that struggles for peace. It is only the working class that can be relied upon. Click on these links: Pacifism and Violence, a Study in Bourgeois Ethics, Caudwell (7989 words) The succession debate, Zwelinzima Vavi, COSATU (1733 words) COSATU call for a Soccer Indaba, COSATU media statement (575 words) Zuma and Mbeki head to head, Allister Sparks, The Star (1222 words)