Revolutionary Trip

The Communist University meets this evening to discuss Antonio Gramsci’s 1926 work “Some aspects of the Southern Question”, which concretises a very similar set of circumstances to those of South Africa in 2006. Venue is the Women’s Jail and time is 17h00. Next week at the same time and place, and subject to the decision of today’s gathering, we will discuss Cde Blade Nzimande’s article in the current Umsebenzi Online, called “What is the National Democratic Revolution?” COSATU GS Zwelinzima Vavi has personally carried federation policy to the tourism industry this week in more ways than one. In his speech to a Tourism Skills Indaba in Johannesburg, linked below, he notes the potential for jobs in this industry but also that these are presently often poorly paid jobs. “Job creation in tourism cannot be to establish a class of oppressed and unskilled servants for the rich”, he said. Not only should more workers be better paid in this industry, but more workers should become tourists in their own country and not simply be selling their heritage to foreigners who are much richer than themselves. Subsequently the COSATU GS struck a blow for the same tourism workers by refusing to go to Sun City where SACCAWU members are on strike. As a result a meeting of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee was moved from that venue to Sandton. Quite right too. See linked items below, including the report from today's Star. The YCL concluded a very successful bilateral with the Afriforum youth yesterday and all agreed to take part in a Youth Summit as soon as possible. See the linked document below. The YCL’s National Congress from 14th to 17th December in Umlazi in KZN is one of the major political events of 2006. Previously omitted but worth going back to is the speech of COSATU North West Provincial Secretary Solly Phetoe to the SACP rally held on 14th October in Khutsong to mark the launch of the Red October campaign in Gauteng and also the 85th Anniversary of the SACP. See the last linked item below. Click on these links: COSATU GS Zwelinzima Vavi, Input to Tourism Skills Indaba (877 words) LOC solidarity with hotel workers, COSATU Media Release (197 words) Aint gonna do Sun City, Vavi tells 2010 board, Smillie and Kalideen, Star (451 words) Joint YCL, Afriforum statement from bilateral of 19 October 2006 (441 words) Speech by Solly Phetoe, COSATU NW Province, 14th October, Khutsong (709 words)