The name's Nkosi. Joe Nkosi.

Among the documents that can be found among the 3994 items by Lenin in the Marxists Internet Archive is an entry form he filled in for a trade union conference. In the space for “trade union” he wrote “none”, and in the place for “trade or profession” he wrote “litterateur”, meaning writer. Like Lenin, all revolutionaries not only have to be capable of writing; they also must produce actual writing. So the Communist University studies writing, as for example yesterday with Tim Cohen’s article on the “passive voice”. Before writing, it is necessary to interpret what is read. The writer must be able to recognise the techniques that are being used. Yesterday’s City Press newspaper is a good test of such abilities. The front-page headline says “Spy drama hits COSATU” (their story is linked below, and also COSATU’s short response, in full). The by-line is S’thembiso Msomi and Caiphas Kgosana. The Communist University has no private information on top of these articles and others already in the public realm. For example there is the known fact that former COSATU First Deputy President Joe Nkosi resigned a few days ago, after nearly three years in office, and less than three weeks from the date of the COSATU 9th Congress, where he was scheduled to chair some very important sessions. Some half-baked inflammatory rumours also appeared in the City Press not long ago under S’thembiso Msomi’s by-line, with the obvious purpose of crippling and thereby eliminating one or more of the candidates for office at the COSATU 9th Congress. The CU has discussed it before. That story did not “have legs”. It did not “stand up”. It did not “run”. It has died a natural death. Yesterday’s City Press’s first sentence says: “The Cosatu leadership battle has taken another nasty turn with a top union leader resigning amid accusations that he was spying on South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Blade Nzimande.” Later on it says “Nkosi yesterday denied the claims and said his resignation had nothing to do with the letter” (from Nzimande to COSATU GS Zwelinzima Vavi). “Spy drama hits Cosatu” makes the matter sound as if it fell from the sky, but Msomi knows, and we know, that it does not come from nowhere. Msomi’s previous articles, inaccurate though they were, must have been based on information from someone, or else they were complete fabrication. Who, then, was Msomi’s informant? Was it Joe Nkosi? Msomi’s problem is that his source for a story has now become the story. This is bound to happen if the story is a piece of manipulation in the first place. Msomi will have to be careful in case he, too, becomes part of the story. He might have done better to report on the substantial political and policy matters at stake in COSATU, none of which are secret, and all of which are more important than any gossipy tittle-tattle. Unfortunately at this stage for Msomi, his story is still incomplete. For example, even if Joe Nkosi was a South African James Bond, he would still have to be working for somebody. If he sold out, then who bought him? Was it the City Press? Or maybe it was the CIA? What is meant in the article by the mention of Joe Nkosi’s “company in Witbank”? Is that his employer, or is it a BEE thing, or what? See also the item below on demonstrations and marches, and the way that the ruling class is also playing dirty in that department. Click on these links: Spy drama hits Cosatu, Msomi and Kgosana, City Press (563 words) Article in City Press called Spy drama hits Cosatu, COSATU (94 words) Police abuse against demonstrators, COSATU press release (617 words)