Work in Progress, No. 77
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For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org/. Page 1 of 55 Alternative title Work In Progress Author/Creator University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg) Contributor Pillay, Devan Publisher University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg) Date 1991-09 Resource type Journals (Periodicals) Language Afrikaans, English Subject Coverage (spatial) South Africa Coverage (temporal) 1991 Source Digital Imaging South Africa (DISA) Rights By kind permission of Hein Marais, Julian May, and the Southern Africa Report. Format extent 52 page(s) (length/size) Page 2 of 55 WORK 1111WIP 77 September 1991PROGRESSINSIDEThe Downfall of Communism* Sarhwu Organises White WorkersCiskei's Covert Hit-Squad Page 3 of 55 These and much more ...See order form opposite Page 4 of 55 Page 5 of 55 Published by theAfrican Re-0 5-iPO Box 32716Braernfonteir *d0-'t'' South AfricaEditorLYEVA PILLAGLENOn DANIEL$'SIMPETHAPAUL ASEKCOfca Man ~<KHOSE MVAB:'Admirrd*tr.tivaSPSONGILE THONVERPDistribution Co o dmMorLAWRENCE NTSAMAIMail Pag" 1, '10' ~ K"t>Wt..~t Pages 32, 34PEDITORIALhe events in the Soviet Union are momentous, and havedeep implications for our struggle for democracy. Anti-socialist and anti-democratic interests in this country areon the attack. Because socialism has been identified withthe bureaucratic forms of social organisation nowcrumbling in the `communist' countries, the championsof capitalism feel vindicated.Dressed in the garb of `democracy' these forces, if allowed freereign, are poised to take the country along the road to IMF/WorldBank-sponsored neo-colonial dependency. The introduction ofVAT is but the most recent example of what is in store - an attackon the living standards of working people, in the interests of the richand powerful.But South Africa's future path need not be determined by theideologues of the `free market'. There is enough ammunition in thearmoury of socialists to disarm such forces, and provide answers toaddress the socio-economic deprivations caused by apartheid-capitalism.But this requires a decisive break with past associations, and are-assertion that, ultimately, there can be no democracy withoutsocialism, and no socialism without democracy.The born-again democrats in the National Party- most notablythe blustering foreign minister - are silent about gross abuses inthe country they govern. Thousands have died so far in Natal andon the Reef, and the spectre of fascism is rising ominously in theCiskei. The fingerprints of government agents - including thoselurking within the department of foreign affairs are everywhere.The proces s towards democracy is not yet irreversible. Until thatpoint is reached, the armed wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe,still has a role to play in the defence of the people. This was re-affirmed at the recent MK conference, where MK cadres showedthat they represent some of the most disciplined and capableactivists within the liberation movement.But the ANC leadership has to act much more assertively toaddress the real problems of neglect MK cadres are experiencing.It is only then that MK can fulfill its potential and play a meangfulrole in bringing peace to the country, and building a new defenceforce that protects a future democratic constitution, and not anypolitical party.The Inkathagate scandal has opened up the opportunity for thedemocratic movement to take the initiative. Whether it has doneenough so far is questionable. All the PWV region of the ANC, forexample, could offer was a tepid attempt at a consumer boycott. Itfailed miserably precisely because, once again, the people were notconsulted.Building democracy cannot be an empty phrase. It must be builton the ground, with the people. It seems that a lot has yet to be learntfrom the experiences of the trade union movement (which, notsurprisingly, displayed no enthusiasm about the consumer boycott).If a deep and sound understanding of democracy is not built intoour understanding of `democratic socialism', then we will not beoffering anything substantially different to what has failed in theSoviet Union and Eastern Europe.If so, then we might as well give up, because the bullets we willbe firing at the ideology of the `free market' will be blanks. Page 6 of 55 LETTERSCOMMENTThe downfall of communismBRIEFS 4 Durban's Merebank community fightsdangerous polluting industries PWV consumer boycott flops miserably6VIOLENCE Can the Inkatha gate be closed?John Aitchison Assignment to murder: Ggozo's covertmilitary group exposedLoWse FlanaganMK CONFERENCE Sharpening the spear - for peaceDevan PillayLABOUR Cosatu - continuing the classcampaignInterview with Jay Naidoo Cosatu's gender forums:taking gender seriouslyGlenda Daniels Sarhwu and white workers:class solidarity on the tracksGlenda DanielsINTERNATIONALLBrazil - the Janus faceMonty Narsoo30ECONOMY VAT - robbing the poorto give to the richCRI C IMF and World Bank in Africa:Curing the disease by killing the patientSipho Buthelezi Confronting messy economic practicesBernie Fanaroff37DEBATE ANC women's quota:taking the debate furtherPat H-9 Nusas-Sansco merger:will students move with the times?Jonathan Gunthorpe Marxism-Leninism and abstract truthDave Kitson Social democracyor revolutionary socialism?Adam HabibBOOKS _ Learning from Robben Island:the prison writings of Govan MbekiJeremy CroninCONTENTS7Sharpening the spearThe ANC's military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, held ahistoric conference in Venda recently, and showed adetermination to overcome the deep problems it hashad to endure since the unbannings, and to carve anew role for itself inside the country- Pages 14 to 19The collapse of communismDoes the imminent collapse of communism in theSoviet Union represent a fatal blow, or is it in fact thebest thing that could have happened to the cause ofsocialism? - Special Comment, Page 3Assignmentto murderGqozo's secret militarygroup, formed to destabilisethe Border region, isexposed by theIndependent Board ofInquiry into InformalRepression - Pages 9 -13 Page 7 of 55 LETTERSWe won't beintimidated intosilenceDear EditorI would like to informreaders about developmentsat the University of theWitwatersrand (Wits) sincethe lecture boycott andoccupation of the adminis-tration's offices in March(WIP 73). It is necessary todispel the impression createdin WIP 73 that eightystudents faced disciplinaryaction, and that chargeswould probably be dropped.The administration hassought to demonstrate itscontrol over the universityby isolating and victimisinga handful of students.Eight students have onlyrecently been charged fortheir part in the occupationof the administration'soffices. Each of thesestudents was sentenced to aLETTERSWrite to: The EditorWork In ProgressPO Box 32716Braamfontein 2017rustication of two years,suspended for two years.Four of these students aremembers of the SocialistStudents' Action Committee(SSAC), which has beenconsistently harassed by theuniversity administration.The institution ofdisciplinary action againstthese students serves theadministration's interests invarious ways. The adminis-tration seeks to avoid thegenuine empowerment ofstudents. It thus acknowl-edges the right of students toprotest and then seeks todefine the form which thisprotest may take.`Acceptable' protest isrestricted to passive actswhich are essentiallysuggestive and may not takethe form of assertive action.Vice-Chancellor Charltonrepeatedly told the press andthe university communitythat the administration hadnot yielded to the demandsof the protesters involved inthe occupation and classboycott in March.The delay in the imple-mentation of disciplinaryaction was a cynical,premeditated manoeuvre.The administration sought toisolate its chosen scapegoatsby implementing discipli-nary proceedings whilestudents were preparing forexams.The twelve students wereable to obtain a postpone-ment of these proceed-ings,but the delay hadsucceeded in diluting theanger of other students.It had also succeeded inremoving the protesters'actions from the democraticdemands which inspiredthem. Students were protest-ing against the high exclu-sion rates, lack of accommo-dation and the introductionof a new policy enforcingthe full payment of fees byMarch, instead of August.The mass of studentshave not forgotten thesedemands. Institutionalisedintimidation will not preventassertive protest overlegitimate demands. Theharsh sentences simply fuelthe desire of students tocontrol their university. Andgenuine empowerment ofstudents can only beachieved through their ownassertive action. - GrantDoble (SSAC member)WIP Is an Independent publication oriented towards